High School teachers not ready – resident
The resident, a caller on the Speak Your Mind TV show aired on February 22, 2014, expressed the belief that teachers at the Elmore Stoutt High School were not ready for teaching.
According to the man, “we have failed the youngsters, there is no if, and or but about it. We have failed them.” He heaped blame on persons within the education system for not coming to grips with the problems affecting youths.
The man suggested that officials refer to a UNESCO Education report of 1984 which he described as the best report worldwide. “Would you believe that they even can’t find a copy of that report at the Education Department…?” he questioned.
He suggested that the report proposed a tracking system that allowed high achievers in classrooms to be placed in front while other ‘slower’ students be placed at the back of the classroom where they could be expected to receive more attention from teachers.
Increased role of community in education
One young woman expressed that she was not in favour of an additional year being added to high schools and felt that the gap between high schools and elementary schools needed to be bridged.
She explained that a lot of work was being pushed, especially at Class 5 and appeared at a loss upon entering First Form. “The gap between Class 5 and Form One is wide,” she stated.
According to the woman, statistics show that students often have to end up repeating their first year of High School.
“We seem to be dabbling into too many things and we’re not giving anything a real chance to step in to see if it’s working, if it’s not working or what is taking place,” she contended while making several suggestions herself.
The young woman said systems should put in place to check students’ progress in various subject areas and things should be implemented to encourage students to be attracted to learning and remaining in schools.
“No student should feel like a failure, everyone is not academically inclined and until we target that we will be forever having this problem,” she argued.
She also recommended that the private sector have an increased role in the education of students in the Territory in a mentorship capacity. “We need to also get the community involved in the development of our education system,” she said. “It wouldn’t just be the Department of the Ministry, it would be a community thing.”
Among other things, Government’s proposal seeks to insert a Grade 7 or additional year at the First Form level scheduled to take effect from the upcoming school year. According to officials, proposed changes to the system will take effect at the Third Form level for the first year. Changes are not expected to affect current Fourth and Fifth Form students.
10 Responses to “High School teachers not ready – resident”
You are talking UTTER RUBBISH! While some weaker students may be that way because of a choice or other social issues, there are many other kids who try their best but because their needs are not catered to they fall behind. Are you telling me that kids with Autism, ADHD etc. who are very good students otherwise but may not learn certain subjects like the 'normal' kids, should be left behind because they're in the minority? That's pure bulls..t you're talking. There are many kids in the school system that are struggling because we have an ancient system that doesn't cater to students with issues and different learning styles. I won't say it's the Teacher's fault as they can only follow the outlines provided. I know that there are some Teachers that try to do new things but are shut down and told follow the rules or else... So I agree we can't just throw Teachers under the bus bout you sound very stupid by saying most kids that are considered 'weak' are that way because of being unprepared. The 'smart' vs 'weak' assertion is also a very misguided one. There are many cases of having kids who are more technically inclined forced to sit in a classroom writing and listening to a Teacher prat all day long, boring boring boring. Put these kids in a Technical program and they outshine anybody, anywhere. This is what I see the Ministry trying to do, bridge the gap between academics and technical while also revamping the system to reach those different kids who are also smart but learn differently. There's an old saying "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live the rest of its life thinking it's stupid!" Our system needs overhauling NOW and to cater to ALL kids because ALL kids can do well in their own right. The ones that need the social attention can get that as well and parents should be involved as much as they can as they play a crucial role in their kids upbringing.
Mr. Wheatley is saying teachers cannot relate because of culture. All of us black people had our roots originated in colonialism. What nonsense he is talking. He should be ashamed to see where the system is going and doing nothing to help. Al you too prejudice that's why the system is flapping