The Editor, Sir:
This is my first letter to the editor, but I am compelled to respond to an article by Dr. Garth Rattray published in The Gleaner of Monday, July 24, captioned 'GSAT marginalises many children'.
I unfortunately fall in the category of 'stressed parents' as I tried unsuccessfully to have my child transferred to the school which one of his siblings is currently attending and which his eldest sibling also attended. (I was not even allowed an opportunity to make an appointment to speak with the principal.)
Having written numerous letters and visited a number of other schools, without any success of a transfer, I must now resign myself to sending my child to a school where he will undoubtedly experience a culture shock in addition to having to deal with the negative psychological effect that this could have on him as he must see himself as inferior to his other siblings.
Damage control
I know that I speak for many other parents who must now do damage control to ensure that their young children do not lose self-worth and self-confidence. I visited the school to which my child has been assigned and was taken aback by the state of the facility. It left me wondering how effective teaching and learning can take place under such conditions.
Reverse the negative effect
I, too, must ask: "What are we doing to our young children?" I wholeheartedly support Dr. Rattray's recommendation that the schools share resources - physical and human - in the interest of our children. 'Children live what they learn; children learn what they live'. Certainly, they deserve to be treated better than this.
I must now develop a strategy to reverse the negative psychological effect that this is having on my child and urge other parents of children marginalised by GSAT to do the same.
Parents, we need to start a movement for the upgrade of the less-rated high schools to establish a nationwide standard in academics, discipline, facilities, staffing, inter alia that would make parents comfortable to send their children to the high school closest to their community.
I am, etc.,
CONCERNED PARENT
