THE EDITOR, Sir:THE CURRENT debate on educational achievement at the secondary level in Jamaica should be seen as a serious attempt by the Jamaican people to make some changes for the better. In making the needed changes, however, we the educated should use our educational experiences as a guide.
There are many factors that help to determine educational success. These include competent committed teachers, strong visionary principals, devoted parent(s) and a supportive Government and society. There are some other factors that make a difference in this process and these differ from person to person. I can illustrate this by relating my own experiences.
I was born in one of Jamaica's most rural districts, walked three miles to primary pchool, passed the competitive Common Entrance examination, went on to Calabar High School, Mico Teacher's College, State University of New York and Hunter College School of Social Work. I now have a master's degree and I am a director for one of the programmes at a foster care agency in the United States.
Looking back at my educational experiences, I realise how important the support I got from a number of people along the way was in my educational success. The journey to school from Norway in the hills of Manchester to Craighead All Age school was no easy task, especially when one had to attend the early morning Common Entrance classes as well as in the late evenings. The burden was made less with the assistance of Mr. Harry Shields' milk truck, which came early in the morning and was always willing to give me a ride. In the late evenings, "Jawbone", the cigarette salesman, would give me a ride home. On Fridays, a day when I was the only child from Norway going to school, the only incentive I had was the ride home on Mr. Malko Young's grocery delivery truck. After leaving Norway, my sister, Jackie, my cousin, Norma, and my aunt Jem all provided the needed assistance to complete high school. During my high school years, I had many excellent teachers, but Sam Washington became a mentor and surrogate father (my father died the year before high school).
At Mico, Renford Shirley provided the moral guidance, while Dr. Errol Miller inspired me to think and develop my intellectual capacity. All of this would not be possible, however, without persistent love and caring that I got from my mother. Mama was the engine that provided the strength to push me to achieve, without that influence I would not be where I am today.
Plans to improve the current system must take into consideration all the factors that influence each individual's education. This process will take a renewed commitment from the entire society, The blaming of principals and teachers is a poor excuse for our collective failure as a nation. We need a culture of educational excellence for improved results in our schools.
I am, etc.,
DENNIS FRANCIS
Denafranco55@hotmail.com
Poughkeepsie, NY
Via Go-Jamaica
