Book: They Call Me Teacher: The life and times of Sir Howard Cooke
Reviewed by: Billy Hall
A VITAL part of modern Jamaica, Sir Howard Cooke, Governor-General is revealed in this book as a versatile man and strong patriot whose adult life parallels that of modern Jamaica and is a vital part of that period of history.
The author, Jackie Ranston, narrates the story but let's the subject interject regularly to reinforce and substantiate. She thereby provides readers with invaluable historical documentation of significant views on Sir Howard, and other important leaders in modern Jamaica (1935-2003).
These personal views of Sir Howard heighten interest in a work that otherwise would have been dull, reading more like an officially commissioned biography. Indeed, the early chapters do have that character but as the story unfolds, chronologically, Sir Howard's confessions and prejudices, especially as a top political party 'insider', catch the attention of anyone with more than passing interest in Jamaica's modern history.
Ranston is evidently a good biographical data researcher, perhaps even a better one than she is a writer who analyses events for significance socially and politically. Her researching strong point is consistently good in all her books: The Best of Bustamante, From We Were Boys, Lawyer Manley, and now They Call Me Teacher.
Her Excellent research work ought to be continued with focus on some of the outstanding characters she identifies, such as St. William Grant (52), O.T. Fairclough (60), and Peter Kerr-Jarrett (161).
In her focus on Sir Howard she brings out his versatility in life, as one who was truly a 'country boy', experiencing life fully at every level of Jamaican society, as by sheer ability and professionalism he rose to become the highest office holder in the nation.
But despite being a man of 'many parts', his outstanding trait is that of 'teacher' as the title rightly indicates. In his long years of service, 23 were spent in the classroom, but those years have stamped indelibly his character as 'teacher'.
His career activities include not only classroom teaching and executive representation in teachers' organisations but responsibility as Minister of Education, apart from his counselling role and community work as a respected teacher and father figure.
Politically, he was a foundation member of the People's National Party (PNP) in 1938, and one of the seven persons involved in drafting the party's first constitution. Moving through the ranks of the party to the highest echelons, he was elected to the Federal Parliament in 1958, and to the Jamaican Parliament in 1962. In 1967 he became a Senator, and between 1972-80 held three ministerial posts.
THE 70S
At 88 years now, with 64 years of marriage and an impressive record as a Governor-General beloved, he is a deserving subject of a book to inspire the youth of Jamaica, for his achievements are considerable and his integrity is impeccable.
Of great interest, therefore, are his thoughts during each critical moment of the nation's history, particularly during the 70s when an ideological battle raged within and without the ruling PNP in the wider society, and internationally.
For instance, we learn that in 1974 "Michael Manley brought in D.K. Duncan through the backdoor" of the party and made him General Secretary, then in 1976 appointed him Minister of Mobilisation (128). Shortly after, D.K., described as "aggressive" and someone "who know exactly what he wanted" made public remarks that triggered ideological concerns widely, even internationally.
In 1977 D.K. declared publicly that the time was ripe for political mobilisation to come "in a most urgent manner to put Jamaica on the road to socialism" (128). Others, of course, were no less strident, and those radical ones, Sir Howard assures, were opposed "within the confines of our own circle. Nonetheless, the extremists had set the stage where people started to question us." (130)
Sir Howard mentions the mixed message of the party regarding, for example, the role of the private sector. In October 1974 he said, the Government announced that "democratic socialism was its official policy" but within that concept, there was room for the private sector but with the public sector controlling or owning the "commanding heights of the economy" (131).
However, shortly after that announcement, Sir Howard says, D.K. Duncan is reported to have said "We shall wipe capitalism from the face of this country" and Michael Manley had declared, "No way shall capitalism continue in Jamaica; the day of capitalism is over." (131) But a week later Manley was urging businessmen to expand. And so "the season of words began" (131).
Sir Howard says the party conservatives opposed the radicals in private. He says "I opposed D.K., probably more than anyone else, so did P.J. Patterson, Horace Clarke, and to a lesser extent, David Coore." (130)
Throughout those days of ideological turbulence Sir Howard kept his record of excellence and so, not surprisingly, when he was identified as the next Governor-General his appointment was welcomed, even though some persons did declare a preference for Winston Jones, he says.
However, the late Professor Carl Stone of academic fame as a pollster and political analyst, affirmed Sir Howard. In the Daily Gleaner of July 1, 1991 when he wrote: "In my view, Howard Cooke is an excellent choice for Governor-General... He is a likeable man with impeccable honesty and integrity, and he has an unsullied career in public life" (140).
The passing years have made those words prophetic except that mention ought to be made of his life's partner, a most remarkable, beautiful woman Ivy Tai Lady Cooke. They were married in 1939, and are the proud parents of three mature, educated, cultured and professionally competent children.
THE EXPERIENCED LADY COOKE
What is particularly remarkable and perhaps little known is the way Lady Cooke is grounded by experience in Jamaican rural life. Her comments on her time at Belle Castle make the point without need for comments:
"No water, no light, a pit latrine 66 steps away from the house, cooking over a wood fire in a kitchen 33 steps away, and, rain, rain... covering my head with a piece of zinc while I carried the pots of cooked food up to the house where the roof leaked and soaked the bed a coir mattress and trying to drug it piece-by-piece over a coal pot.
"And: walking down the hill in old silver and changing at Flat Grass to walk out the mile to catch the bus the only bus to Kingston, and Howard meeting me in the evening with a lantern to guide us home." (147)
Such episodes evoke graphic pictures in the mind, therefore, one looked for more than the eight pages of photos in the 171-page note-size work. Certainly, for a social life so well documented, more photos would have enhanced the work.
The cover is a painting rather than a photograph and not as clear as one would like, therefore, the more reason for a good, clear, official photograph on the inside pages at least, and a current one with Lady Cooke by his side.
Nevertheless, the usefulness of the book is underscored as a pioneering venture and as a reference for any future work, for the biographical diagram is clear, revealing back to twenty centuries his ancestral roots. It is undoubtedly, a book that constitutes a vital part of Jamaica's modern history.
Publisher: Ian Randle Publishers, 2003
