Teachers' attitudes have not changed THE EDITOR, Sir: TEACHERS' ATTITUDES towards students have not changed much since my school days (1960s-1970s) until now. During my years at school I noticed that a majority of our teachers always exhibited a tendency of disrespect and snobbery towards students whose parents are of the peasantry and treat the students whose parents are of the aristocracy in the best manner possible. Some of these misguided teachers disguise this disrespectful behaviour very well but others don't care and blatantly showed their prejudice towards students of the peasantry. This they do by saying very disrespectful things to them and treat them as if they are failures and are destined to become criminals and if they do not go to prison they can't become anything but cane cutters, higglers, common labourers etc., taking up from where their parents left off. While in contrast to this they nurtured the students of the aristocracy to become leaders in business, doctors, lawyers, etc. In Jamaica today some teachers treat these students even worse. This small band of teachers are giving the teaching profession a bad name, as we know that teachers are good people who show care to all students and endeavour to educate and to instill good practices and behaviour. Good teachers show patience to students even if they are a little wayward, because only by showing care and taking an interest in those under their charge can they discover what is happening to a particular student. I sincerely hope that with the migration of some teachers to the US and England the good patriotic ones who stay will impart invaluable knowledge and show a degree of concern towards all students so that they will grow up to be good and productive adults. I am, etc., RANNY BARRETT Hanover
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