Norman Manley: As good as any, better than many

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

There was a time when the name Norman Manley High School would have been among those associated with bad behaviour.

As principal, Adaire Powell-Brown, admits, the complaints were numerous, including that students were fighting on the road.

"So an initiative that we had to take was teachers had to monitor the road," Powell-Brown told The Gleaner yesterday.

This included the dean of discipline and school resource officers, but, she stressed, discipline was everyone's responsibility. This included stricter adherence to the uniform code and improved behaviour in class. The wholistic plan to turn things around includes student mentoring, counselling for problem children, and better school security.

"We now have a set procedure as to how we accept visitors on the compound," explained Roncell Brooks, dean of discipline. "We ensure that at all times they are with a member of staff."

Brooks noted that this has reduced physical and verbal confrontations with students and teachers. Students have one entrance and exit point so that guards can better familiarise themselves with them.

"All other persons come through the main gate," he said. "So at no time will you see any visitor moving about the compound not being monitored."

Fights among students at school - up to five a day at one point - were also a major issue.

Powell-Brown said positive reinforcement and uplifting messages have been essential to curbing indiscipline.

"When we see good behaviour like our netball team being selected as most disciplined in a competition, we highlight it and show the school this is what we're talking about," Powell-Brown said. The school's Respect Agenda Campaign started a few weeks ago. It seeks to inculcate better values in one class and then spread the message to the wider school. It is part of the Jamaica Resocialisation Programme.

Each student is expected to do a project which speaks to conduct, behaviour, and attitude. The class prefect will collect and mark the projects before the form teacher and an oversight committee review the grades. Students' attitude and improved conduct will also be scrutinised as there is special emphasis on these. Acting vice-principal for Shift One, Paul Hall, noted that to complement this, other measures like keeping the corridors free have made a difference.

"When students are moving from classes or during break, that's the only time they're expected to be seen," he said. "So even if the teacher is not present at that time, they're expected to stay in class." The form rooms are now assigned to teachers, not a particular class, so there is renewed energy to be ready for the next class on time.

Powell-Brown emphasised that it was a team effort, with all staff members - from academic to ancillary - all chipping in.

But incorporating the parents is also essential to Norman Manley's plan. Spearheaded by the guidance counselling department, there are workshops for parents of problem students to help them better monitor and care for them.

"We do a good amount of home visits to get a full understanding of the child's environment - what are some of the problems why this child is late for school, or why are they smoking?" said Dwayne Gordon, head of the department.

Changes noticeable

There are also in-house sessions and a range of motivational speakers and behaviour-modification workshops as well. The changes are noticeable.

"Persons are commending us on the behaviour on the street," Powell-Brown said. "I've heard comments that they look more well put together and in terms of what is coming out of their mouths."

The fights have also been greatly reduced.

"For the past two to three years, we have had probably about two or three fights total for that entire time," said Brooks.

Powell-Brown said like any school, there was the good and bad. She cautioned there were still challenges and said the school was still fighting the stigma of being less than desirable for new Grade Six Achievement Test placements.

"In September, some of the students who passed for the school did not turn up," she said. "That is the reality of it."

Hall said even the student teachers are afraid to come at first. But Powell-Brown uses the term 'centre of excellence' to refer to the institution and this message is adopted and reinforced.

"We keep telling them we are as good as any, and better than many," she said.

Full Caption: Principal, Adaire Powell-Brown (centre), says its a
total team effort to change Norman Manley High's fortunes. Members of
the team here with her are (from left) Roncell Brooks, dean of
discipline; Sharmin Codner, head of the English department; Paul Hall,
acting vice-principal for Shift One; Levi Wilson, mathematics department
head; Donna Elliott-Bailey, teacher responsible for the school's merit
system programme; and Dwayne Gordon, head of the guidance counselling
department. photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer