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Common Entrance Examination: Termites Jonesing!

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Submitted by William Skinner
Hon Ronald Jones, Minister of Education
Hon Ronald Jones, Minister of Education

Once again the annual ritual surrounding the release of the Common Entrance Examination results, has taken center stage. While the Minister of Education rants and raves about the mathematics results, the Principal of the University of the West Indies seems down spirited about the science results at Cave Hill. Any alert observer will see the connection. If the foundation is bad the building would eventually fall.

The Minister of Education refuses to see that if the results are deteriorating under his watch, it may be time for him to move on to another ministry. But we have little regard for holding our leaders accountable. Dragging retired teachers from their gardening and other hobbies to teach math will not work because there is no retired teacher in his or her right mind, who will leave healthy flowers and vegetables, to return to the quagmire that now envelops the Ministry of Education.

Our entire education system is on the verge of collapse but like many other decaying structures the final fall may take some time. Carpenters know about new coats of paint giving the impression that there are no termites. However the termites are there and they will get the job done eventually. Truth is that we are afraid to “touch’ a single rotten board because we fear that the house will fall down. Just slap some paint on it!

We went about claiming that we had an almost one hundred percent literacy rate, while some of our children sitting the Common entrance, could not construct a simple sentence or count to fifty. The loquacious principal of the University at Cave Hill talked about a graduate in every household, while the employers were complaining that many graduates had not mastered basic English. No problem –just flood the place with them and hope for the best.

So next year around this same time, we will parade the “bright” students and some Minister will talk about math and English results. And some principal of Cave Hill will lament that the science results are not encouraging. The termites will be the only focused group on the island; slowly but surely making sure the house crumbles. Then we will call in retirees from the pest control industry.

They will probably say on arrival: We cannot treat dust-too late!

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166 responses to “Common Entrance Examination: Termites Jonesing!”

  1. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    After the average Barbadian has spent 12 years or more of schooling what is he fit to do? If at 16 or 18 years of age, a young person cannot move on to BCC or to university because of financial problems or lack of CXC certificates (or both), what are his prospects? The summer vacation period will start in about 3 weeks, what will we do with the approximately 12 000 young persons age 15 to 18 ? The common entrance exam is of little importance in the really critical task of developing a young person for adult life.

    I would like some suggestions to help some teenagers find vacation employment of any kind.

  2. MoneyBrain Avatar
    MoneyBrain

    @PP
    We need to focus on training and apprenticeship for the trades, agriculture and technology. Bajan leaders tend to believe that Uni education is important, when what is really critical is educating for a career that is practical and people can get a job that they can earn a living. We dont require the 500th Political Scientist/ Economist/ International Relations,( the bros on the beach have PhDs in real Intl Relations anyway, at least they are satisfying Tourist demand LOL)

  3. David Avatar
    David

    In the same way our little societies Barbados included are battling the scourge of conspicuous consumption behaviour so too there is a prevailing attitude driven by being aspirational read class mobility pushing attitudes which say to be a lawyer, doctor is better than an agriculturist or some technical vocation.

  4. Well Well Avatar
    Well Well

    Money and David…keep saying it enough and something is bound to stick eventually.

  5. Well Well Avatar
    Well Well

    Due…….the children still do not understand much of what Stuart says, it simply does not make much sense.

  6. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    We make such a fuss about getting 7 CXC certificates but while that is a good thing in itself, in the wider scheme of life, success is find enjoyable employment, being able to provide for one’s needs and wants and being able to provide for one’s children. Since most Barbadian students do not achieve more than 3 or 4 CXC certificates, they have to make their way (and most do) in spite of this. Could it thus be said that for most of us, schooling contributed very little to our success in adult life? It appears to me that for 70% of students, our school system is a very expensive day care scheme.

    At least 4 000 young people will wish to enter the labour market over the next 2 or 3 months. What do they offer prospective employers?

    Anyway my more immediate concern, which I am putting to the wise of BU, is what to do with some ordinary, healthy, happy Bajan teenagers over the next 9 weeks? They would like to work (clerical, manual labour, sales … anything) or do some form of vocational skill training.

  7. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    David,
    the total number of doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, engineers, accountants, economists, political scientists, international relations “experts” etc probably does not exceed 5000 persons. There are about 150 000 people in the labour force. I don’t care what persons’ aspirations are, it appears that only about 1 in 30 persons will be in these professions. Further it seems that the country is spending half a billion dollars a year to “find” and prepare 3 – 10% of the labour force.

  8. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    I am even more convinced that my initial post about the 11 plus is correct, it’s a pity that anal retentive bloggers who reside in the 40’s and 50’s (Bushie is that you?) are unable to sever this link from the past. A program established to level the playing field has now morphed into a system that benefits the well to do/well connected/know somebody important which enables them to place their progeny in the “right’ schools, in effect we have exchanged the old non transparent practice which benefitted the movers and shakers or of yesterdays’ society with a system that benefits the movers and shakers and hangers on of today’s establishment.

    We now have primary schools which cater to the children of those who have special status to the detriment of those who live abut and abounding those schools, we have primary school teachers who specialise in offering extra “lessons” after school (for remuneration of course) to the same students who occupy their classrooms during the day to steer them to pass this test. If you can afford those “lessons” get in front of the line if not yuh better hope that your son/daughter is smart enough to absorb the required knowledge on their own. That a few “poor” children now get into certain schools does not negate the leg up on access to those schools that the sons and daughters of the “better off” have.

    There should be a system of natural feeder schools catering to the students within certain geographical zones, why shouldn’t those who live in the St. Lucy area attend St. Lucy Secondary? Or those in St. Philip attend Princess Margaret or Lodge? This could help relieve some of the burden on the transportation system as half the students in Barbados are now subject to long drives on a daily basis rather than travel short distances close to home.

  9. David Avatar
    David

    @Ping Pong

    Agree with you and your last comment makes the point even more forcibly. Our decision making by our leadership read government and parents is driven by that aspirational mindset. It is why the narrative about education is to do nothing because it is what has been touted as our major success. Our headmasters and teachers posted at the ‘low’ school aspire to work at the grammar schools for example. BU’s concern like yours is also about those souls who fall below the mean of success and have to hit the streets and carve out a survival path however the problem starts with decision making or lack of it in the education leadership. While it is laudable their life survival skills, it will impact the quality of the society because we failed to not thoroughly prepare our citizens for life.

    In an economic boom the problem is ‘band aided’ but in times like now we have become like deers caught in headlights because of the overwhelming magnitude of the issues which confront us.

  10. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Sargeant
    Steupssss….why don’t you stick with matters within your pay grade nuh? Uppity NCO!

    @ Ping Pong
    Excellent points.
    What it all points to is the lack of an over riding strategic plan for education that would obviously address the fundamental questions that you raise…
    Why are we doing this “education” thing in the first place?
    What are the specific objectives and goals we want to achieve?

    If, as you suggest, it is to maximize the livelihoods of our 159,000 job seekers, then we are clearly doing shiite….expensive shiite.

    The fact is that we have no such plan. Sir Cave has imposed his mantra of “a graduate in every household” into the vacuum and we have been heading into serious trouble.

    Our default strategy therefore is to make everyone, regardless of their particular talents, compete to be brilliant intellectuals like MoneyBrain, Hants and GP……and those 80% who fail miserably can then scratch for themselves
    The 15% or so who come close …are rewarded with meaningless white collar jobs working for Canadians, Americans and Trickidadians who own every shiite bout the place….

    …..oh…..and 4.5% of the 5% “Successes” are up in Canada and the USA laughing at we asses on BU 🙂

  11. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    ….all like Hants so….telling we to go and plant yams and bananas….while he watching cricket, fishing for trout, or driving bout his 5-Series Black Man Wheels…. 🙂

  12. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    First thing we need to do is come to a NATIONAL UNDERSTANDING of what we mean by “S U C C E S S”.

    This will then drive all of our strategies, rewards, incentives, financing, penalties, scholarships, and focus……

    @ David, you last comment would suggest that “Success” means a fellow like MoneyBrain.
    MoneyBrain has been no damn success for Barbados. He may be a success for MoneyBrain and his family…..especially he bright daughter… 🙂
    Neither are GP and Hants. These fellows all represent wasted resources from the NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE….

    On the other hand, a fellow like LOWDOWN, or yourself, or Caswell…who have taken individual talents to the level where they positively impact on national life on a day-to-day basis are clear examples of SUCCESS.

    Is our education system in ANY WAY geared to producing such individuals? …OF COURSE NOT.
    In fact wunna fellows are considered rebels and radicals…….LOL
    …a little bad luck and wunna would have ended up as ZR drivers or conductors …..which is where MANY of our really talented youths end up…..(that is why no one can control them…..)

    So here we have a highly expensive system DESIGNED to produce MoneyBrains and GPs, and to retard Caswell’s, David (BU)s and Lowdown’s….

    Talk bout a shiite system……

  13. David Avatar
    David

    Here we go again!

    Parents making transfer requests

     

    Parents making transfer requests Ministry of Education (Internet Image)

    By RANDY BENNETT | Sat, June 14, 2014 – 12:08 AM

    WHILE SOME PARENTS were revelling in their children’s performance in this year’s Common Entrance Examination, several others headed down to the Ministry of Education yesterday morning seeking transfers.

    From as early as 8 o’clock, dozens of disgruntled and annoyed parents arrived at the ministry’s Constitution Road headquarters, some crying injustice for what they described as unfair treatment of their children.

    Yesterday was the deadline for parents seeking transfers for their children.

    One visibly upset mother, who chose not to give her name, said it was unreasonable for her daughter, who attended Sharon Primary and lives in St Thomas, to have to go all the way to St George Secondary. She argued that her daughter could have been placed at Springer Memorial or another school which was more central.

    Please read the full story in today’s SATURDAY SUN, or in the eNATION edition.

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @Tea Bush

    By your last comment are you not defeating your widely espoused thesis about the need to appreciate the crucible of life visited by BBE that us mortals who want to succeed must overcome?

  15. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Not at all David.
    Indeed, that “crucible of life” is EXACTLY the spiritual equivalent of our earthly education system…
    …a preparation for a much more meaningful phase of life.

    NOTHING is more important than preparing for the RIGHT thing…

  16. David Avatar
    David

    @Ping Ping

    You are wise enough to know that to succeed in this world a large dose of planning must come in to play. Planning summer job placements must begin long before the target period for the simple reason hundreds will be competing for limited places. Identify the employment segment which the teenagers et tal estimate will add value to aspirational goal/career at least 1 year in advance, research all the entities in the target segment to brim knowledge level and feed intelligent conversations with officers of target company. There is the possibly if there is no budget to recruit services the teenagers can be offered for a stipend. It may be too late now but a full press effort may still yield a positive outcome.

  17. Ping Pong Avatar
    Ping Pong

    I can’t solve the problems of the educational system (that’s above my pay grade) but I have to bring up my children as well as help with nieces, nephews, godchildren and some children in the neighbourhood who just look to me for advice and help. I have to work with what presently exists. These children are generally civil, happy youngsters of varying cognitive abilities. None are “geniuses” and none are psychologically challenged. They attend different schools (QC, Foundation, C’mere, HC, Ellerslie, St.Michael’s, CP, Lester Vaughn and St.Leonards). What is common to each of them is a general confusion about the future, a lack of vocational skills, and other than the child at St.Leonard’s who wants to be an electrician and the one at Foundation who wants to be an accountant they are pretty clueless as to which direction to go in. What is also common among them is the desire to leave Barbados permanently.

    Each one of us has to take responsibility for the outcomes of our lives. We have to make use of the opportunities that come our way but I wonder if we are doing enough to open the minds of our young persons to the possibilities, providing opportunity for vocational training and whether national planning actually contemplates (as in expects, plan for, await etc) a future contribution of these young people (the Chinese can’t do everything)?!

  18. MoneyBrain Avatar
    MoneyBrain

    @PP
    My kids HAD to work during Summer from 16 yrs the legal age!
    I use to work from 12 yrs at my Uncle’s store, especially at Christmas. Use to talk the young working ladies into buying gifts for their MEN, never allowed them to buy for 1 guy always plural!

  19. Well Well Avatar
    Well Well

    Money…….you old devil.

  20. MoneyBrain Avatar
    MoneyBrain

    @Bushie
    Excellent points, once U dont blame me!

    Tom wanted to TAX my wife and I @70% Marginal! Tom was proving that a Cambridge Uni education is frigging useless as he could not seriously expect that youngsters, even those keen to their pert for Bim, were going to take that rassery! Educated FOOL sans Common Sense!

    Retarding Lowdown! The man is a Bdos Scholar, retard dont belong bout he!

    The MASSIVE MISTAKE of political “leadership” is misunderstanding that they must encourage the most productive members of society. This is the essence of what Singapore got correct. The really progressive members WILL PULL the economy up by their efforts.

  21. Well Well Avatar
    Well Well

    Money…….i thought it was Lowdown’s wife was the Barbados Scholar, don’t let Lowdown fool you……lol

    Anyway, I had that conversation with someone this morning, James A. Tudor, who had no education managed to amass a wealth of land, churches etc between the 40’s to………he educated his children, the ones who did not go to Cambridge or Oxford or where ever………who did not become politician blah, blah or whatever……………professional, etc. etc……….take a look at the Tudor broken down neglected properties in Barbados now, all that education and not one can turn what their grandfather or great grandfather did into a success story.

    It seems as though all that English education is nothing but mis-education and brainwash education to make them the fool, if they have no commonsense to counteract all that bullshit classical nonsense that should only be used as a hobby if one is so inclined but is useless for real life experiences.

  22. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Bushie “when some ugly parent turns up unannounced talking bout they want to see a particular teacher….?”

    Except that I am very, very good looking..film star beautiful.

  23. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @GEORGIE PORGIE June 13, 2014 at 10:35 PM “My experience at Harrison College was very different. I was always treated respectfully
    WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?”

    I expected to be treated respectfully and I was. I was always respectful to the staff, teachers and parents. also, from the nice gentleman who greets people at the Crumpton Street gate to the principal.

    It is not difficult to be well mannered and respectful.

    How much time and effort would it cost a principal (say at CP) to instruct all of his staff that all parents (ie. those people whose taxes pay your salaries) must be treated in a respectful manner. On arrival at the school all staff should say to the parents and other visitors.

    Good morning Sir or Good morning Ma’am How can I help you?

    And then proceed to help the parent or direct them to the person who can help them. It is not that complex especially early in the morning when teaching has not yet begun

    Parents don’t leave work to come to a school for nothing. We parents have many calls on our time and energy. If we go to a school it is because we have good reason to be there.

    THERE IS NO NEED TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR UNCOUTH BEHAVIOUR.

  24. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Bush Tea | June 14, 2014 at 10:54 AM |
    “….all like Hants so….driving bout his 5-Series Black Man Wheels”

    Hants probably catching the TTC and investing his money. BMW wha!

  25. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ MoneyBrain
    LOL
    Bushie blames you somewhat…cause yuh selfish….
    Why do you think Tom wanted to tax you 70%? …it was because you could handle that level of national contribution….
    A man of your talent can’t expect to pay the same little 5% or 10% like any Tom Dick and Harry…
    To whom much is given, much is expected…..and a fellow with your level of talent MUST expect to make disproportionate levels of contributions…
    The 30% that Tom was leaving in your pockets would still have left you a multi- millionaire…. 🙂

    @ Ping Pong
    Your concerns are real and meaningful, however these are problems that MUST be addressed at the strategic level. In an environment where businesses are laying off full time employees it is not very likely that they will be any mass recruitment of vacation staff.

    @ Simple
    “…. I am very, very good looking..film star beautiful.”
    +++++++++++++++
    YOU TOO?
    Shiite man, David have a way of attracting film stars to BU….
    We know of Islandgal
    We recently heard of SSS
    Now you are spilling the beans….
    Tek care wunna don’t make Baffy pop he rope yuh…..

    …you have anything to say here ac? …any revelations?
    LOL hahahahahaha

  26. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Ping Pong “At least 4 000 young people will wish to enter the labour market over the next 2 or 3 months. What do they offer prospective employers?”

    There are probably 4,000 or more people aged 64, 65 and 66 year olds who would love to go home and begin their pensions right away, and hel mind their r grand children and leave 4,000 or more jobs to the newbies.

    Are we ready for a rethink of the retirement age…does it really have to be 67?

    Is the government THINKING at all?

  27. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Bush Tea “So here we have a highly expensive system DESIGNED to produce MoneyBrains and GPs, and to retard Caswell’s, David (BU)s and Lowdown’s….

    and efficient, charming ZR drivers and conductors…Leh me big up my ZR men

  28. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Simple
    “….If we go to a school it is because we have good reason to be there”
    ++++++++++++++++
    Sure you have….!
    …if you are a student, a teacher, member of ancillary staff, OR IF YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT.
    Stop complaining do… This time you was probably just looking to smile up in the teacher’s face – looking to get favors for your little Johnie or Suzie… – especially now we know yuh got a film star face…

    You lucky you did not butt up on a deputy head like BEAST…..
    LOL…. It is rumored that he used to cane parents along with their deviant children 🙂

  29. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Well Well June 14, 2014 at 1:14 PM “Money…….i thought it was Lowdown’s wife was the Barbados Scholar, don’t let Lowdown fool you”

    Wife is a Barbados scholar, Lowdown is a Barbados Exhibitioner…the man is no fool.

  30. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    This time you was probably just looking to smile up in the teacher’s face – looking to get favors for your little Johnie or Suzie ”

    Little Johnnie and Suzie are chips off the old block…smart…common sense…don’t ask for, need or accept favours.

    And did I add real, real good looking too.

    LOL!!!!!

  31. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    BushTea wrote “compete to be brilliant intellectuals like MoneyBrain, Hants and GP.

    Bushie please do not insult Moneybrain and GP. I am not in their league when it come to hard work and success.
    I am a lazy Bajan who only works hard when he has no choice or when given an opportunity to solve difficult problems.

    Also Bushie I have never owned a BMW. I do own a 3 litre v6 sport sedan with a top speed of 200kph+ but at 62 years of age I need to satisfy an extended mid life crisis.

    @ Simple Simon wrote “Hants probably catching the TTC and investing his money.

    Wrong. I don’t have any money to invest. I am just another han to mout Bajan waiting to be planted.

    Now I gine an get ready to guh to a free barbecue at one of my Canadian friends who is not han to mout like me.

  32. Well Well Avatar
    Well Well

    Simple…..thanks for clarifying.

  33. Unlooka Avatar
    Unlooka

    When my daughter was at secondary school she was doing fairly well in math but I decided to get her a little more help. She went to this retired teacher and his style of doing math was different from her school’s. She wanted to give him up as he obviously was not working for her .I still sent her to him and her school grades got worst. I eventually stopped sending her . Math has evolved and some teachers have not

  34. Bob Avatar
    Bob

    Bush Tea
    Are you Vic Fernandez ?

  35. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Yuh tink he would pass de screaming test.

  36. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    why not Hants?
    his ability to play as a God givn gift should not preclude his academic ability

  37. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    GP I was just highlighting the talent of this guy at 11 years old.

    I an an avid guitar player so I spend a lot of time listening to music.

    My two “passions” are fishing and playing guitar.

  38. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    all I was saying is dat if at age 11 he is a good player he should be encouraged to play, but this should not stop him from being an academic

    i wish i could play some musical instrument

    if i was an organist or pianist I could get lots of easy part time church jobs in this country

  39. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    GP that young fella would probably a successful academic.
    It takes a lot of discipline to play like him at that age.

    It is great to see Monsieur Waldron still writing and arranging calypso / soca.

    https://www.facebook.com/straycatstent

  40. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    hants he either has lots of discipline, or he like it real bad, or he has lots of God given talent or all three

    Thank God, I was never taught by Kellogs, reported to speak French wida Bajan accent. LOL

    I started off with LA Bourne (now a maguffy somewhere), then in 1 & 2nd form it was JV EARLE, and from 3-1 to 5-1 it was Ms BB Alleyne (Miss Prim & Proper)

  41. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    GP I have a lot of admiration for Kellogs. He was a muscian from Kolij days and remained involved in Bajan music and culture.

    This is from last year.

    “When he performed at the tent’s opening and again on judging night which was Tuesday at the Crane Resort, he sang Tribute To Vagina, a song he said scared the younger artists and Reparations or What.”

    http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2013/06/27/walrond-being-honoured-for-contribution/

  42. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    David can we have a Cropover / music blog so I don’t hog up this space?

  43. Smooth Chocolate Avatar
    Smooth Chocolate

    someone whose child attends one of the newer secondary schools should not fee that all is lost. four CXCs is what is needed to pursue great courses at the BCC, who cares about 9 or 10? i know personally of a young lady who attended Springer, left with 5, pursued her dreamed at BCC and now at 23 has her dream job which includes lots of travelling to places she never knew existed. i know of others her age that attended Queen’s College, had 8 CXCs and 4 CAPEs went to UWI, has a degree but no job or skills, i know of this young man who attended Queen’s College also just completed his degree and is now working as a cashier. now years ago when these 3 sat the Common Entrance, many would have sang the praises of the 2 who got places at Queens and the child who went to Springer? I always told her, life was not about the school she attends. her mum told her just aim for at 4 or 5 to get into BCC. She let school with 5 CXCs. At 23 they are all shocked at her accomplishments. i remember hearing work colleagues boast about their children at Harrison College, Queens, what they were doing, how much CXCs they left school with etc and today not one of those children have the success and accomplishment as yet, that this child from Springer has. I think along the way that parents forced some of those children to pursue degrees in medical, law etc because of the presumed prestige attached to those jobs but some way along the way the children had love for something else. as of today, this girl from Springer has a career that she sought, prepared and studied for that most people would be envious of. .so parents you do not have to be despondent or even think that it is the end of the world, it is not, let the child pursue their dream, give them opportunities to do so and leave the rest to God….

  44. GEORGIE PORGIE Avatar
    GEORGIE PORGIE

    The point of your argument is then, I suppose we should send all of our daughters to Springer memorial and urge them to strive only for 4-5CXC..
    Thanks, I will urge my son to see that his daughter attend Springer memorial and urge her to strive only for 4-5CXC..

  45. MoneyBrain Avatar
    MoneyBrain

    @Smoothy
    Brains for studying is merely one aspect of life. the real World can be too much for some. My friends daughter just graduated Queen’s Uni on the Dean’s List BUT does he have the confidence to become a Doctor?

    I know fellas that played the ass at HC but once they decided to head in a certain direction ( some academically, others in Business) became wildly successful, while others with nearly twice the CXCs etc are stuck in lower end jobs–SOOOO? Life has ups and downs and it is how U play the cards that counts. One of HC’s most brilliant grads, a Lawyer, died as an alcoholic on the streets of Bridgetown.

    Life is very complex. There are many solutions and even more problems

  46. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ GP
    That is not her point..and you know it….
    The point is that success is NOT about CXCs or any particular school, but about setting goals based on your talents and interests AND THEN ACHIEVING THOSE GOALS,

    So a fella who ALWAYS wanted to be a motor mechanic and who works to achieve that – is MORE SUCCESSFUL than one who wanted to be a brain surgeon and had to settle for being a dentist… (LOL or settle for being a teacher of rich but dumb yankee children… 🙂 )

    @ Bob
    …who wants to know if Bushie is Vic Fernandes?
    ….market vendor?

  47. Lemuel Avatar
    Lemuel

    Money:
    I concur with that last post. life also has to do with environment and how the individual is nurtured. People normally have crises when transitioning from one phase of life to another: juvenile to man hood with its responsibilities.

    At times, we think these young people can handle these things but many need guidance through them and support!!

    Being bright in Barbados is about learning book work and repeating it laboriously, little critical thinking is involved!!

  48. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Bush Tea, you know those dumb yankee kids you made mentioned to in what amounted to your confusing explanation? Well, one of those Dumb yankee kids, happens to be the number one pediatric neuro-surgean in the world. Talk about being a brain-surgean and dumb American kids in the same sentence! Ironic isn’t it Bushie?

  49. Dompey Avatar
    Dompey

    Lemuel, what do you know about critical thinking? And what has life experiences to do with critical thinking? Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Miamonides and Karl Jasper were all critical thinkers, who utilized theory to justify they own version of reality.

  50. Lemuel Avatar
    Lemuel

    Bushie:
    If our educational system tomorrow undertake the simple task of making sure every one within the system SHALL leave READING, WRITING and have a clear understanding of Maths at the primary level. Then Barbados would be ready to take off; at present all we produce are functional illiterates!! Cuba did it. if we need a revolution so be it!!

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