THE EDITOR, Sir:
WE MIGHT be citizens of an island paradise but we are definitely not living in a utopia. So let us stop sugar-coating and stop dreaming on Monkey Mountains regarding the traditional high school versus non-traditional high school debate. Let us talk reality here, people. The truth hurts but it is about time we face it.
No matter where the acceptance levels are a traditional high school will always be a traditional high school. Campion will be Campion and Haile Selassie High will not be the Queen's School. Schools like Wolmer's and St. Jago have put in years of work to earn the respect they have today and absolutely nothing will change that. Children will always dream of earning a place at traditional schools and parents are always going to entertain and encourage these aspirations. They will always have their history, their championships and their alumni, no ministry can take that away!
We need not forget that these traditional high schools boast some of the best teachers, some who are products of these same high schools with a life time of experience. They know how to milk discipline and exam passes out of their students and for these reasons their schools will remain among the most desirable. I would love to see every child receive astute guidance and tutelage but it's just not possible.
I would love to entertain Peter Espeut's 'Apartheid' theory regarding high school placement but his idealistic desires cannot be applied to the real world. Equality is unattainable! Working on improving the standards of non-traditional high schools is one thing. Bringing people to view every school as equal and desirable is another. Can you imagine a 250-year-old school being on par with a 2-year-old school?
To the 'Lifestyle's' modest proposal of a buddy system between traditional and non-traditional high schools I am going to give a modest disapproval and a vulgar laugh! As a recent 'traditional' high school graduate I can predict better than any psychic can that this will not work. Schools already have variations of the buddy system, we call them interclubbing and socials. Nobody wants to go to the non-traditional schools just for a club meeting (to laugh and eat) let alone for it to be on a regular basis!
Also, while traditional schools have no problems getting other traditional schools to attend, non-traditional schools are usually bitter against us and opt not to come to our schools.
The problem is with the primary and preparatory schoolers and their parents accepting non-traditional school. Therefore, why are you proposing a disruption of the high school equilibrium? Additionally, the graduation certificate/diploma will not say 'Penwood buddy school to Campion' or vice versa. Nor will universities and employers care.
My recommendations are that we expand traditional high schools to take on an extra class. Let us say a class holds 45 students and there are 25 traditional high schools (I know there are probably more) on the island 1,125 extra children will be happy. Of course, this will mean that more teachers will be needed, which is a good thing because more jobs will be available and though often overlooked teachers aspire for positions at these schools as much as students do.
There should be non-traditional schools with high acceptance standards. That way children and parents will be pleased to know that though Queen's and Munro couldn't take them, they weren't just thrown (placed) somewhere. Instead, that child will be among others of his/her proficiency and will not suffer a terrible fate of wasted potential. One of the reasons why non-traditional schools are unpopular is because everyone is thrown (placed) together, the child who missed his/her school choice by 10 per cent and the one that barely got 3 times 10.
The teachers and parents of non-traditional high schoolers should get to work on motivating their children and playing an active part in the running of the school and the disciplining of their children. Traditional high schools do not work on genetic traits of their students. The children stray and lose focus like other teenagers do, but with a framework of good teachers and involved parents they manage to weather the teenage storms and produce disciplined and well-educated young men and women.
The Ministry of Education and their fat pay cheque-earning leaders need to treat the teachers better. Motivate them to work. With better pay, work environments and incentives you would be surprised at the difference the teachers will make. Remember, teachers are society's/the future's mechanics! Now let's get to work.
I am, etc.,
RAYNARD MORGAN
Ray_jigga@yahoo.com
67 Ann Lee Lane
Tamarac, Florida
Via Go-Jamaica
