Kudos for Education

THE EDITOR Madam;

I HAVE just returned to the United States after a ten-day visit to Jamaica for a study of beginning teaching in Jamaica. I had the pleasure of meeting with 28 school teachers and 12 school principals in the areas of Mandeville, Manchester, and Malvern, St. Elizabeth. I also met with 16 lecturers from Church Teachers College, University of the Northern Caribbean, and Bethlehem Moravian College.

I was able to meet with so many educators in such a short period of time due to kind assistance of the Honourable Dean Peart, MP and Minister of State, Transportation and Works, Mr. Anthony Watson, Counsellor, Mandeville, Manchester, Dr. Randolph Watson, Principal, Bethlehem Moravian College, Malvern, St. Elizabeth, and Mrs. Lucinda Peart, Vice President for Administration, Bethlehem Moravian College.

To be sure, the effective education of children is as important in Jamaica as it is anywhere else in the world. It is also just as challenging a task, given the predictable tension between ambitious goals and limited resources. However, I can report with complete confidence that the

teachers, principals, and lecturers with whom I met are extremely dedicated, hard-working, and capable of meeting the challenges they face in their work. The gratitude that I witnessed last week on Teachers' Day was most justified, and the future of education in Jamaica is in good hands.

I am etc.,

TOM GANSER, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and

Director of Field Experiences

College of Education

University of Wisconsin

Whitewater,USA