Joelle Simone Powe | ‘We can fly’

In recognition of the failures of our primary education system to adequately prepare students to read, write, and do math, Holy Trinity High School has embarked on what may be the most radical educational transformation project ever undertaken in Jamaica.

This year’s first formers at the Holy Trinity High School are part of the 7th Grade Academy, a revolutionary curriculum where a focus on literacy, numeracy, and values replaces traditional learning modules.

At the heart of this innovative approach is a commitment to nurturing not just academic skills but also the character and inner lives of these young Jamaicans. As part of this holistic development, the students recently embarked on a day of reflection amidst the tranquil beauty of Hope Gardens.

The day was organised around a central mission: to instil a culture of gratitude for ourselves, each other, and God. The 7th Grade Academy Project Coordinator, Grace Baston, explained that the Jamaican cultural norm is not to celebrate what we appreciate about people. “Even when we love someone, we focus on what is bad about them”, she says.

The more we love and care for someone, the more we criticise and harass them. A lie?

And as an anthropologist in training, I was eager to find out – can we change a culture that has been deeply instilled in us?

AMAZED

I was amazed at what I saw.

When the students arrived they were loud and distracted, and hoping for their favourite fried chicken treat or the bus to break down on the way there, anything to divert from what sounded like a boring day of reflection.

The transformation began with singing Agent Sasco’s Caterpillars Can Fly.

I was born with everything I need to be me

With wings inside my mind to set me free

I know I’ve got vision, more than my eyes can see

And I know, I rule my destiny

So no matter how hard you try

No, you can never change my mind

I know if caterpillars can fly, so can I

About midway into the song, the students started singing with conviction. It opened their hearts and minds to participate fully in the day of reflection.

They went off on their own to sit in nature and journal. It became clear in talking with students that access to nature and quiet time for thinking was a privilege that these children did not often have. The opportunity to simply sit amidst the verdant landscape, “hear birds chirping and the breeze blowing,” was deeply cherished.

VULNERABLE POPULATION

Students at Holy Trinity represent a vulnerable population in Jamaica. Though at the tender age of 13 and 14, many of them have had and witnessed life experiences known to those typically far beyond their years. It stood out to me especially when children remarked that they are grateful to have life. In their world, life is not taken for granted because they have watched so many around them fall.

I watched in awe as they discovered the wonder and support of nature and God, finding a tree with branches so strong that it could form a swing and hold them up sturdily as they frolicked back and forth.

When it was time to come back and share personal reflections, everyone was so outspoken and ready to share. Girls boasted of their cooking and cleaning skills, and their hair-braiding prowess. Boys boasted about their talent in sports.

They acknowledged each other as supportive and protective friends who stand up for each other. They thanked classmates who often help with homework, and teachers who always go the extra mile.

I witnessed a holistic transformation happen in real time. I thought to myself about how many times I’ve encountered a child who has been given up on because they are badly behaved, or are facing challenges in school. Every butterfly was once a caterpillar. The Holy Trinity 7th Grade Academy Project demonstrates that every child can manifest their full potential; it’s all about how we engage them.

We are monitoring this educational intervention closely as early signs suggest that it is already working.

Literacy has increased on average by 1.5 grade levels in the semester. At the start of the programme, 78 per cent of students were in the critical non-mastery category for mathematics. By the end of the semester, only 30 per cent of students were in the critical non-mastery category for mathematics. Attendance and punctuality are both up by 31 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Discipline issues are also way down when compared to previous cohorts.

This one small step for Holy Trinity can be a giant leap for Jamaica.

Joelle Simone Powe is an anthropologist, documentarian, writer, researcher, and advocate for cultural and historical preservation. Send feedback to info@joellesimonepowe.com