Government of Jamaica urged to implement 'clean' policy in schools

Laura Redpath, Gleaner Writer

Concern about Jamaica's environmental cleanliness was etched on the face of a long-time teacher and lecturer as she called for the Government to implement a national clean policy in schools.

Winnie Anderson-Brown, a teacher for more than 30 years at all education levels and current lecturer at Shortwood Teachers' College, was awarded The Gleaner's Silver Pen yesterday for her letter to the editor, published in November 2010 titled, 'Students socialised to be litterbugs'.

In her letter, which Anderson-Brown said came from her pain, she commented on the impact littering in schools had on the state of law and order in Jamaican society.

"But how many of us are able to see any connection between garbage disposal and crime ... ? Littering is against the law, but many Jamaicans act as if littering is a virtue ... .

"How can we have respect for law and order when we allow our children to wilfully break the anti-litter law and teachers stand helplessly by?" she wrote.

Take a stance

Therefore, she insisted yesterday that the Government needs to take a stance on cleanliness in schools, especially out of support for teachers.

"The level of education can never improve unless we deal with (filth in schools). Nobody seems to be paying attention.

"People are concerned about the grades that students get and the more the focus is on grades is the less likely the environment will be cleaned," she said, noting that she was worried about the teachers who have told her they cannot spend the time worrying about cleanliness and grades.

She said unfortunately, ancillary workers in schools are expected to shoulder the blame for filthy surroundings.

"Unfortunately, the easy way out is to hold the ancillary workers responsible, accountable for what goes on, and we reap that when we see what happens in the wider society - the garbage on the streets," Anderson-Brown said, while sympathising with those who are left to pick up after the students.

Anderson-Brown suggested that everyone in society assumes collective responsibility by seeing to it that his or her corner is clean.

"And it is time for a clean schools policy," she said.

laura.redpath@gleanerjm.com