The Editor, Sir:

I have followed the discussions regarding the GSAT and the need for possible adoption of a new placement mechanism. However, until that is done, I am wondering what benefit there is to be gained from some of the stories in The Gleaner of Sunday, June 21.

How does it help an 11- or 12-year-old child to know that those who are responsible for his education for the next five years consider him a dunce? What impact will these stories have on those students at 'non-traditional' high schools who, even though they are making their best effort to succeed, now know that their administrators consider them a challenge to work with? How do these articles help to remove the unfortunate stigma already attached to these institutions?

I am not, for one minute, asking that we pretend that problems do not exist in these schools. My hope, however, is that we spend a little more time working at solving the problems from the ministry to school staff, rather than doing what we seem experts at doing, identifying them.

As an example, I had the privilege to visit Black River High School some years ago and was indeed pleased to know that their students have done well enough to move on to sixth form at 'traditional high schools' and continue to do very well. I have also seen some who moved on to university and are doing very well.

Serious about education

From the moment I entered the school's campus, it was obvious that there was someone serious about education in charge. While I do not personally know the principal of the school, I strongly believe that he/she had a plan for bringing the school forward, which did not include hand-wringing and griping about what is not available.

Let us give these children a chance by developing a plan to help them achieve their full potential, even with the lopsided start that they have already been given.

I am, etc.,

ANDREW C. ISAACS

andrew_isaacs@yahoo.com

Kingston