Alessandro Boyd, Gleaner Writer

Students visit Heroes Park for special Heritage Month lessons

With NATIONAL Heroes Day approaching, hundreds of children from various basic schools across the island gathered at the National Heroes Park in Kingston yesterday and were exposed to monuments to and burial sites for many of Jamaica's national heroes, prime ministers and cultural leaders.

"We want to expose and let them know who the national heroes are, what they did, what they were about and where they are located," Kerry-Ann Campbell, a grade-one teacher from Dunrobin Primary School in St Andrew, told The Gleaner.

"It is Heritage Month and we want to give them a close-up view as well as impart some knowledge of their history."

Campbell added: "We need to let them know that we, as citizens, are free today because our national heroes fought for our rights."

IMPORTANT ACTIVITY

Lorraine Johnson, a teacher from Little People in Training School, also highlighted the importance of such an activity as her class travelled from Linstead in St Catherine to view the monuments.

"It is very important because it is a part of their curriculum. We asked them questions and they answered correctly. It is good to see that they enjoy learning more in this kind of environment. They are very excited because they came and saw the different heroes. This is the first year we have decided to do this, but we intend on doing it for years to come," Johnson said.

One student, four-year-old Kysaun McIntosh from Ferdinand Mahfood Basic School, could not hold in his delight as he scurried towards The Gleaner and listed the national heroes.

alessandro.boyd@gleanerjm.com