UPDATE: ‘We are losing our males at an early age’- Cecily Malone
The graduation ceremony for the six students was held yesterday, December 4, 2013 at the Ward’s Building in Road Town.
Highlighting the positives first, Ms Malone said the graduating class was small but there is always something special about each class. This year’s top graduate, Ms Tiffany Bryan, achieved top positions in Mathematics, Human and Social Biology, Computer, and Social Studies. Ms Marva M. Sylvester captured top honours in English Language.
The coordinator then noted that last year’s graduating class was different in that three males held top positions in three of the five subjects; Mathematics, Social Studies and Human and Social Biology.
“My disappointment is we are losing our male students at an early age. Most of us know that children live what they learn and it is no different for our male students. We should therefore establish the skills, attitudes and behaviours during the early years when the brain is rapidly being wired, pruned and rewired if we are to produce positive adolescents.”
One of the concerns, Ms Malone stated, is that children, especially males, are learning how to waste time from very young. She said fortunately, however, each child is at the centre of a triangle- the home, the school and the community, which includes the church that should aid in their development. “I expect that some will fall through the corners of the triangle but it is happening too often. Many of our children, and mostly our males, are falling through.”
The coordinator also said, without any ambiguity, that adults are failing the children and that she knows the challenge of adolescents but adults must connect to them if they are to help them to find positive paths.
“All I am saying is that we need to go back and help our children develop into independent, caring, young people. Parents and day-care workers need to read, play games, and talk with young children in order for them to learn to read and to communicate. If a relationship is developed very early, when those young people grow older, they will discuss their problems with the adults in their life.”
It is Ms Malone’s opinion also that teachers too need to connect with their students since if they do not connect with their students, they will not be able to reach them and to develop them emotionally, socially, as well as academically.
The responsibility to mould children into positive adults also lies with the community, Ms Malone added. “Our young men congregate together in each village and you see them and just pass them by. We need to stop sometimes and talk with them. They are not all negative. If we talk with them we will find out how they are thinking and we would be able to help them before they start displaying negative behaviours in the community.”
In conclusion, Ms Malone believes the most influential are the home and school where parents and teachers come into contact with children when they are young and tender and can be moulded into a positive individual. “They must set the foundation in the early years for others to build upon. It is time for the blaming game to stop; teachers blaming parents, parents blaming teachers; it is time for us to work together for the betterment of our young people,” Ms Malone urged.
See previous article posted December 4, 2013
6 graduate from Alternative Secondary Ed. Programme
Graduates of the Ministry of Education Alternative Secondary Education Programme were told to dream, believe and act in order to live up to their full potential having now made use of a second opportunity to achieve their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).
The graduation ceremony for the six students, all females, was held earlier today, December 4, 2013 at the Ward’s Building in Road Town and saw attendance from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture, Dr Marcia Potter; Deputy Chief Education Officer (Ag.) Dr Lavern Chalwell-Brewley and At Large Representative Hon. Archibald C. Christian among others.
Dr Potter, giving the congratulatory remarks on behalf of the Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn who was said to be in cabinet meeting and could not have attended, to see their achievement as a brand new beginning and continue to dream, believe and act in order to achieve their set goals in life. She said they must believe they have the capacity to achieve to be better.
The Permanent Secretary also said one of their goals should also be to one day have their own businesses.
Top student Brittany Bryan thanked all the persons who were instrumental in them achieving their certificates, including Coordinator and Assistant Coordinators of the programme, Ms Cecily Malone and Ms Joyce Leslie. She said the graduates see the achievement as a platform to launch themselves into the future and promise to make the best of opportunities that come their way.
The six graduates were Britanny Bryan, Pamela Rojas, Marva M. Sylvester, Tashara R. King, Melinda R. Stoutt and Tryphena C. Archibald.
Michelle R. Smith was the only student receiving a certificate in a single subject.
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14 Responses to “UPDATE: ‘We are losing our males at an early age’- Cecily Malone”
Wher3e is M*W? i bet if it was an All young Male class or had a young Male top the class he would ve be there smiling away.