Reid lambastes examples set by politicians
Published:Wednesday | July 28, 2010 | 12:00 AM
JAMAICA COLLEGE principal and former head of the Jamaica Teachers' Association, Ruel Reid, did not waste much time beating around the bush at Guardian Life's luncheon for its Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholars last Friday.
While addressing parents, students and the staff of Guardian Life, the straight-talking educator made no bones about the fact that he thought that Jamaican leaders had failed the country and youth, in particular.
"Am I supposed to tell my students to model those examples?" asked Reid, while referring to what he deemed as a generally poor and dishonest behaviour from the political elite.
"When parents come to school and fight, you can't even too blame them. after all, look how [the politicians] act in Parliament," said a disappointed-sounding Reid, who is also an advisor to the education minister.
Reid said special emphasis must be placed on ensuring that the education of young people has a moral axis. He argued that values-based underpinnings would keep children grounded and break the cycle of immorality.
"Too many of the problems in this country are caused by educated people who have not led this country on a path for development," Reid declared.
He encouraged the Guardian Life GSAT awardees not to perpetuate the bad examples in Parliament and the private sector but, rather, to become agents of change.