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Crisis in Education

Submitted by Anthony Davis The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) today put Minister of Education Ronald Jones on notice for industrial action if he does not meet with members by next Wednesday. “BUT President Pedro Shepherd sounded the warning following a more than  three-hour long meeting with scores of teachers who were summoned to a…

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Submitted by Anthony Davis
Karen Best, Chief Education Officer and former president of the BUT
Ronald Jones, Minister of Education and former president of the BUT

The Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) today put Minister of Education Ronald Jones on notice for industrial action if he does not meet with members by next Wednesday. “BUT President Pedro Shepherd sounded the warning following a more than  three-hour long meeting with scores of teachers who were summoned to a 1 p.m. meeting at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium … On announcing the meeting  on Wednesday evening, BUT president Pedro Shepherd said the union had issues to discuss with the teachers but he did not ‘think the issues can last us for the entire day – Barbados Today (22 April, 2016)

You are very right, Mr. Shepherd!

You did not think period, Mr. Shepherd, because you are being paid to do a job from which you and others are going AWOL without the slightest care about that said job, nor those who will suffer from your dastardly absence. Both of these actions were wildcat strikes.

If you have “no dispute with the Ministry” why did you walk out on the students?

Is that the type of conflict resolution which you are teaching the students when you give Government an ultimatum  to meet with you, instead of asking for a meeting?

Pray tell me Mr. Shepherd why you called out  your members for a meeting at 1 p.m. on Friday 22nd April, 2016 when you knew full well that the students were preparing for the exam of their life?

Couldn’t you have met after school, or is the welfare of your charges irrelevant to you and the others?

Don’t you get enough time off during the year?

Don’t you get about 3 months holiday plus about 3 teachers’ days?

How come there are no:

Police Officers’ days?

Immigration Officers’ days?

Customs Officers’ days?

Prison Officers’ days?

You don’t seem to know anything else but strike, thereby interrupting our children’s education!

Every time they have important exams coming up you seem to think that that’s the best time to strike.

You and Mrs. Redman are being paid by the parents/guardians of the said students whom you are depriving of their education.

I wonder how you can have the gall to pick up a cheque for what you did.

It’s time the nonsense stops.

If one doesn’t work, one should not be paid.

Therefore you shouldn’t be paid for the time you wasted Friday April 22 and Friday April 29, 2016.

How many days do the primary school children have to study for the exams now, Mr. Shepherd?

You stole two from them which means that they didn’t have any tuition on two out of five days before such an important exam, leaving parents/guardians in limbo as what to do with the children.

That was the epitome of callousness!

“Children speak in the field what they hear in the house.” – Scottish Proverb

147 responses to “Crisis in Education”

  1. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    Well Well & Consequences May 4, 2016 at 10:42 AM #
    GP…in other words, Caribbean politicians have a history and shameful track record of not only being stupid, but refuse to keep their minds open to new progressive ideas, despite it being decades after learning that to continue to be that closed minded runs contrary to the development of the islands and people.

    WW i am not sure I understand what you mean here.
    Having attended UWI med school, and having witnessed what the advent of Teaching at QEH did to the improvement of Heath care in Barbados, I was appalled at what I have seen in my travels teaching at offshore medical schools.

    For instance in the little island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, some TEXANS set up there hoping to get a charter from this island to run a subsidiary in Mexico near the Texas/Mexico border to fleece would be Med students there. As in every case in these schools NONE OF THE GOVERNMENTS NEGOTIATE FOR MATERIALS OR EQUIPMENT OR SPECIALISTS DOCTORS OR FREE CLINICS etc that would benefit the host countries.

    The school comes, rents a building and advertises on their websites. They employ a few clerical staff, employ very few local doctors and accept few local students. Where local students attend, they have no vision for these students except to collect fees.

    In Curacao I had a female student who was a Radiographer for many years. and who was travelling to Bonaire and Aruba in the course of her duties. The school officials did not have a vision to have her trained as a Radiologist that could benefit both the school and the ABC islands.

    I had a hard working Jamaican lad who had to quit when he ran out of money. They could not see that he could be given a loan and bond him to subsequently return to both teach at the school and serve at a free clinic at the school as well as at the nearby Black River hospital. THE SCHOOL’s BLINKERED VISION IS FEES FEES FEES ONLY.

  2. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    @ David

    I heard about the Cammie Tudor statue as well.

  3. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ David May 4, 2016 at 10:44 AM #
    “Did BU read some where the government is mulling over whether to erect a statue or some recognition of the late Cammie Tudor?”

    Lol !!!
    You should not be surprised at such an ‘erection’ as a memoriam to the first guru of political propaganda and king maker of prime ministers.

    You can bet your last deflated Bajan dollar such an ‘erectile’ tribute has the total ‘backing’ of Lord King Fumble himself who made it known he is an ardently open admirer of Camille T having spent many ‘closeted’ nights kneeling at the ‘feet’ of the grand-mistress of political strategy à la Machiavelli.

    MAM has nothing to hide and should definitely support (not only by ‘lip service’) the recognition of one of the forerunners for the promotion of equality of opportunity for the LGBT community whether in open or in the dark closet or even in the ‘limelight’ corridors of political power.

    Hopefully, such a sculpture in the image of a Bajan Minerva would not only confer posthumously divine status on an Oxbridge titan but also put an end to the constant nocturnal jousting taking place at Ilaro between Lady Carter and Lady Camille as occurred between Lady C and Lady Stella.

  4. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    Barbados will soon run out of places to name after politicians and big ups.

    Maybe they should do like the rally cars. Then we could have ” The froon stuart,ronald jones,david estwick, chris sinckler,denis low WTE plant….or school or road to de atlantic.

  5. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Hants
    Then we could have ” The froon stuart,ronald jones,david estwick, chris sinckler,denis low WTE plant
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Better yet we can put then to some use as fuel for such a plant….
    …at least then we may get a little energy off their useless asses…

  6. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    HEAR THE NEXT JACKASS BRAY

    The Ministry of Health is looking to expand its internship programme into polyclinics and private hospitals across the island.

    Minister of Health John Boyce made this disclosure today in the House of Assembly while speaking on the Caribbean Accreditation Authority Education in Medicine and Other Health Professionals (Incorporation) Bill, 2016.

    He pointed out that currently there are 36 interns who have found places at the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in areas of obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, internal medicine and paediatrics. However, the minister said almost every year there were at least five graduates from the Medical School at Cave Hill who could not find places at the QEH to do their internships.

    In an attempt to address the issue, the Member of Parliament for Christ Church South said the Ministry of Health was now looking beyond the QEH for the provision of internships.

    “I am comfortable in my mind and in discussion with professionals that this arrangement can be rolled out. We may also be able to create opportunities in our private hospitals because we are seeing an increase in the number of facilities, which offer services in our health care industry. Maybe our private hospitals can be considered as an interim solution to the problem,” he said.

    However, the minister acknowledged that an immediate challenge for private hospitals may be the payment of the salaries to interns, as is currently done by Government.

    He therefore suggested that there would have to be some arrangement between Government and the private institutions to come to a satisfactory solution.

    “It obviously pains to have to sit and speak with graduates who are unable to find places. We have worked both internationally and regionally to try to find other spaces and we have been successful in a couple of our efforts, but sadly there are still graduates who have not yet found places.

    “It is the charge of this administration to ensure that a solution is put in place as soon as possible,” Boyce said.the

    IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NO ONE IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING IN BARBADOS KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE SAYING OR DOING

    BOYCE HARPS that currently there are 36 interns who have found places at the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in areas of obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, internal medicine and paediatrics. However, the minister said almost every year there were at least five graduates from the Medical School at Cave Hill who could not find places at the QEH to do their internships.

    IDIOT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A FIFTH COMPULSORY INTERN ROTATION IN SOCIAL AND PREVENTATIVE/PUBLIC HEALTH REQUIRING THE INTERNS TO ROTATE THROUGH TH POLYCLINICS

    HEAR THE ASS AGAIN However, the minister acknowledged that an immediate challenge for private hospitals may be the payment of the salaries to interns, as is currently done by Government.
    THERE IS NO NEED FOR THIS SEE ABOVE
    DOES HE REALLY EXPECT STAFF AT PRIVATE HOSPITALS TO BE ABLE TO PAY INTERNS?
    DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO NEED INTERNS?
    WILL THE INTERNS HAVE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION?

  7. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    re Hants May 4, 2016 at 10:13 AM #
    @ GEORGIE PORGIE,

    YOU GOING BACK AN MAKE SOME EASY MONEY ?

    “Two New medical schools will be setting up campus in Barbados by year end.”

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/80842/medical-schools-card#sthash.Ih10FnAW.dpuf

    I JUST MIGHT HANTS IF THEY WILL HIRE ME LOL

  8. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    GP…that’s a cry now in every university worldwide, they exist to fleece the students..period. if the governments are allowing off shore medical schools to set up on islands they should contract those benefits to the islands prior to the setup. If there are no benefits, it’s because the government ministers did not want any, or made other arrangements which did not benefit the islands.

    Same decades old story.

    You should also ask re the above article how man private hospitals does Barbados have, how many places can be allocated in the one or 2 little private hospitals and what would these interns have to donto get a place…

    You may also notice none of the politicians actually use their brains, they just tslk, talking heads.

  9. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    WW
    RE You may also notice none of the politicians actually use their brains, they just tslk, talking heads.
    NOTED

  10. ac Avatar
    ac

    as i said i had some very good teachers and i still believe and know that they are excellent teachers in the school system but when society keeps sending negative messages about teachers some of the children for lack of fully understanding becomes embolden upon hearing these negative stories which then spurs a defensive and combative action against all teachers even at the thought of a simple request being asked of them by the teacher
    This Blog has been littered with many stories over the years with varies accusations and allegations about teachers needless to say few as they maybe but has been very short on ascending those teachers which are many to their rightful place of decency and integrity. lest we forget many here have been products of the education system but it seems that many are now quick to kick the ladder down without even stopping to think or even questioning the results of the negative messages being sent to the youth those wanting to climb the ladder of success
    teaching profession is not an easy task and God bless all those teachers who goes about their business as being guardians and representative of our youth who one day might become the leaders of our country

  11. David Avatar
    David

    Looks like the BUT has declared war on Jones and the MOE. What this has done is to remove Redman from the mouths of people. Will the PM intervened now that BUT has instituted a work to rule? Probably in a month or so.

    The script – predicted by BU – is being followed to a T.

  12. ac Avatar
    ac

    the stand off and defensive posture maintained by the BSTu and BUT sells of political posture which would be rejected by the people
    the BStu and BUt is not helping to improve the image of the teachers but so far have faoled the and fell short of achieving whatever goals they have indicated to serve well the teachers interest
    it should also serve the Union leadership well to maintain a voice of reason with a tone to reconciled as well as being astute and observant that the students interest is also a very high priority and equal to those of the teachers and therefore the longer they with hold their duties of being a teacher away from the class they have failed in their duties as professional practitioners to represent the students interest

  13. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Why is it that the yard-fowls assigned to “troll” BU and defend this DLP administration, describe any action or criticism of government or its policies undertaken by individuals, special interest groups, clubs, unions or organisations as being POLITICALLY MOTIVATED?

    Are they trying to convince BU that people lack the ability to look at situations, think for themselves and come to a logical conclusion?

    Don’t they realize that their defense of this piss poor inept administration also “sells of political posture which would be rejected by (BU).”

  14. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    Her job is to troll…. not to make silk purses out of Froon’s ears…

  15. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Perhaps if we researched activities and protest actions undertaken by Ronald Jones during his TENURE as PRESIDENT of the BUT, we might realize that he was just as CONTENTIOUS as Redman and Shepherd, and even more so, since he had aspirations of becoming a DLP politician. Hence, he would have had to display his true “mettle” during the then BLP administration’s 14 years at the helm of government.

    We may not be surprised of the results if we compared the Jones then to the Jones now.

  16. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Georgie Porgie May 4, 2016 at 9:44 AM “WHEN YOU WENT TO SCHOOLS THE SCHOOLS WERE NOT CO-ED MALES DID NOT TEACH GIRLS THEN- EXCEPT IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS OF THE DAY.”

    When I entered my co-ed rural elementary school in 1957 there were 6 teachers at the school, 2 of them were male.

    At my single sex secondary school there were several male teachers.

    And at BCC many males.

    But i did not try to sit on their laps, nor to offer favors or money in return for good grades.

  17. Alien Avatar
    Alien

    Common Entrance Results
    CXC Results
    Paid Lessons

  18. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Calling a spade May 3, 2016 at 1:36 AM “A new pest appears… a peripatetic foreigner at UWI a Tennyson Joseph. Oh how we long for the day when Tom Adams ruled beautiful Barbados . Deportation papers would be served post haste.”

    Oh please. Tom Adams was a bully and we all know that. I for one do not long for him

  19. Alien Avatar
    Alien

    If you are going to make demands, first make sure that your performance is at least good.

  20. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Caswell Franklyn May 3, 2016 at 11:37 AM “the two teachers fighting at school…someone from the school in question…called me to say that this was their THIRD fight at school and two in Oistins where students were present.”

    They need an intervention from a marriage/relationship counsellor/and the police, not an intervention from their union or employer.

  21. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    Or perhaps the Ministry can send one to teach in St. Lucy and the other in St. Philip.

    A bit of space may improve their relationship, tempers/behavior.

  22. Alien Avatar
    Alien

    This generation of adult Barbadians up to about 50+ is likely the most selfish and short-sighted ever. They have benefited from the many sacrifices of their parents and plan to leave nothing on the table for their children. Twenty years from now we will wonder what happened – we did.

  23. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Well Well & Consequences May 3, 2016 at 1:10 PM “QEH employee fighting with a patient, that’s a first, what healthcare professional gets physical with a sick patient.”

    So when a patient feels that it is ok to smike herb in bed (not medical marijuana lolll!!!) and refuses to comply with security or medical staff what then?

    Wash his tail in licks I say.

  24. David Avatar
    David

    @Alien

    Could it be for the very reason you stated we find our selves where we are now?

  25. balance Avatar
    balance

    “x May 4, 2016 at 10:21 PM #

    Perhaps if we researched activities and protest actions undertaken by Ronald Jones during his TENURE as PRESIDENT of the BUT, we might realize that he was just as CONTENTIOUS as Redman and Shepherd, and even more so, since he had aspirations of becoming a DLP politician. Hence, he would have had to display his true “mettle” during the then BLP administration’s 14 years at the helm of government.

    We may not be surprised of the results if we compared the Jones then to the Jones now.”

    and how can you fail to mention the roles of Undine Whittaker and Karen Best- what goes around comes around

  26. ac Avatar
    ac

    Govt as employer of teachers and Minister Jones as minister in charge of the Education . Jones can and should call an urgent meeting with all the teachers in a timely fashion at his request a place and time of convenience
    the meeting would give the teachers in attendance an opportunity to talk directly to the minister without all the interference of topsy turvy and a set agenda by the unions.
    It can be set on a platform which can include a panel /or panel discussion by professionals in the field of mental health and education who can reply to some of the pressing concerns of the teachers and finding solutions

  27. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David &Alien
    This generation of adult Barbadians up to about 50+ is likely the most selfish and short-sighted ever…
    Could it be for the very reason you stated we find our selves where we are now?
    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    Bingo!
    Coming out of the sacrifices of slavery and apprenticeship, our hardworking parents and grand parents laboured and saved to provide to this set of spoilt brats, the things that they could only dream of…
    What they did was create a generation of mendicant takers, with a misguided sense of self importance…. low work ethic, low ethical standards, and a monumental sense of entitlement.

    But character is NOT about what bling you manage to accumulate….
    …and character is EVERYTHING. So while we now boast of GDP in the billions, we have nothing…. and while our grandparents had nothing, THEY were giants….except that they foolishly thought that we would benefit from their extensive investments in ‘education’…..

  28. JMGM "Tom" Adams Avatar
    JMGM “Tom” Adams

    Calling a spade May 3, 2016 at 1:36 AM #

    “A new pest appears in the so called teachers cause which disrupts the education of the nation’s children a peripatetic foreigner at UWI a Tennyson Joseph. Oh how we long for the day when Tom Adams ruled beautiful Barbados. Deportation papers would be served post haste.”

    @ Calling a spade

    If Tom Adams were prime minister in this current political environment, “ceteris paribus,” perhaps he would have revoked Dr. Joseph’s citizenship (since he does not travel from place to place looking for work, but is a citizen of Barbados) and deported him.

    But have you ever taken into consideration that Mara Thompson, who is ALSO a St. Lucian, and a Barbadian citizen….. described by some as a “symbiotic foreigner” (because she is living free in this island at the expense of tax payers) and opposes the BLP, “deportation papers would have been served post haste” as well?

  29. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    “…..the meeting would give the teachers in attendance an opportunity to talk directly to the minister without all the interference of topsy turvy and a set agenda by the unions….”

    Surely the above comments have to be deemed not only as stupid, but politically motivated as well.

    Did you consider the implications of your suggestion before writing that shiite? A suggestion that could only come from a DLP yard-fowl troll.

    It amazes me that this imbecile writes about “law” and “people’s rights” when it is politically expedient to so. According to the law, people have rights of association.

    If Jones, as a FORMER TRADE UNIONIST, were to take the “route” as suggested by the resident yard-fowl troll, he would have negated the rights and benefits unions (and Jones) have been able to achieve, over the years, for employees and set a precedent for the private sector to follow.

    You definitely need to take a vacation from BU.

  30. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    Barbados’ Industrial Relations system is generally best understood in the context of an appreciation for the historical developments that gave rise to the customs and practice, the law, or absence of law relating to the essential elements of the system. These elements include the:

    ………. organisation of trade unions,
    ………. right to freedom of Association,
    ………. freedom to bargain collectively,
    ………. processes of trade union recognition, and
    ………. freedom to engage in peaceful picketing.

    I believe Ronald Jones, as a former BUT president, has much more intelligence than to accept advice from an idiot who is suggesting he should “usurp” the union’s authority and meet with teachers, during an industrial dispute, in the absence of the unions as their “bona fide” representatives.

  31. ac Avatar
    ac

    The unions is an organisation to represent the members. The unions does not hold control or are the employers of the teachers.
    There is no law that prevents employers from meeting with employees to settle internal disputes.
    However it is up to the employee to reject the employers request and make a calculated decision as to whether their best interst would be served by unions negotiating on their behalf
    As usual the robust and muscular reliance of travelling the path of beligerance and bombastic attitudes would take precedent by those who have a political axe to grind

  32. Georgie Porgie Avatar
    Georgie Porgie

    re So while we now boast of GDP in the billions, we have nothing…. and while our grandparents had nothing, THEY were giants….except that they foolishly thought that we would benefit from their extensive investments in ‘education’…..

    SOUND DOCTRINE THAT CAN NOT BE REFUTED

  33. Artax Avatar
    Artax

    As I have stated in previous contributions, anytime an organisation, group or individual has to be critical of or protest against any policy or action undertaken by this DLP administration, is always interpreted by you as being politically motivated or those involved have a “political axe to grind,” without recognizing that, by defending the DLP, you also have a “political axe to grind” as well.

    Yes, I agree that: “There is no law that prevents employers from meeting with employees to settle internal disputes.” However, you must bear in mind that the union is not an AUTONOMOUS organisation, it is the COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGENT that represent its membership.

    Therefore, it is upon that basis that Mary Redman or Pedro Shepherd can’t get up one morning and say they are going to challenge the Ministry of Education or the Minister and then ask the teachers to become involved “after the fact.” That would be a case of the “cart leading the horse.”

    Any industrial action undertaken by the union MUST be SANCTIONED by the membership, and the union, as the collective bargaining agent, acts on behalf of the membership according to accepted procedures or protocol.

    If during the course of industrial action an employer ignores the employees’ agent and seeks to negotiate with them without representation, surely common sense would indicate that the employer has not only breached protocol, but has also disrespected the employees.

    It is evident that blind political loyalty to the DLP has affected your ability to think rationally.

    However, I will encourage you to keep up the good work, because in this forum you are seen as a representative of the DLP. And as such, your contributions will assist in giving significant justification for Barbadians to vote against the DEMS in 2018.

  34. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    Simple…if that is true, why was the police not called, is it not illeal still in Barbados…where in a worker’s manual do you see employess assaulting patients.

    Looks like you also need mental hea5 intervention. .lol

    If Adams was around today, he would still be dead.

  35. Iggi Brathwaite Avatar
    Iggi Brathwaite

    Who is to blame for the ‘selfish and short-sighted’ behaviour of this generation if not their parents and guardians?

    Isn’t is this a strange orgy. We give credit to the generation that produced the Williams’ family (Tank, the Judge, the businessman/WI cricket/diplomat) and the Wilkie Cumberbatches, Iris Rileys et al. Awesome educators and leaders of men and women who forged a nation of achievement. But did they not also oversee the generation that spawned those who are labelled selfish and short-sighted.

    In an orgy its difficult to know where the first screwing begins.

    Where did these 50 somethings who are leaving their parents and grands in senior homes and taking their ‘wealth’ by re-mortgaging the houses in which they grew to add another car or another trip to Disney World, start to get so screwed-up?

    Let’s get that figured out first. Then maybe we can actually start to fix the f-ing problem.

    And that is probably the biggest part. Stop all the gratuitous f-ing around.

  36. David Avatar
    David

    The bottomline, and simple point, is that the buck stops with the employer (MoE). A fractured industrial relations climate although made up of many players, again, the buck stops with the MOE.

  37. ac Avatar
    ac

    First of all the employee has a constitutional right of determination. History has shown that workers have opted to cross picket lines during negotations in favour of employers offer. I have never heard or read where there was some kind of a breachment while employers and employees seek resolution without union input

  38. ac Avatar
    ac

    Agree the buck stop with the employer with an emphasis on setting the agenda gided by law and standards and not be stymied or bullied by those who want to set their own agenda with belligerent and outrageous terms while shouting across the table

  39. TheGazer Avatar
    TheGazer

    Could it be possible that with the passage of time parents and children have changed? The student of today may be more informed than students of earlier times; their parents may be more educated than parents of earlier times.

    Could it be that the hero teachers of yesterday were dealing with a more docile and probably less educated groups of parents. What those parents accepted as gospel may be questioned by this generation.

    It is not my intention to assign blame, but perhaps the model of Williams, Wiley, etc. needs polishing off and updating. Because it work yesterday does not mean it will work today.
    Has our training institutions evolved with the consumers?

  40. TheGazer Avatar
    TheGazer

    *typos above.. too many to correct

  41. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/80880/-war

  42. Iggi Brathwaite Avatar
    Iggi Brathwaite

    Of course each generation has advanced their awareness. And that includes both students and teachers.

    The examples of the Williams clan or Fordes as mentioned on another thread or any successful family group is not the focus. The fact is that our society is a representation of all of us and we cannot speak in terms that isolate the various entities.

    Bad discipline resulted because that older generation started to relax their standards even as their wards/kids started to express their greater awareness (exposure from drugs and the environment) with more acting-out.

    In turn their children were exponentially more exposed with more awareness and were tremendously more rebellious.

    One begat the other.

    And of course teachers have evolved with those changes. They were children at some point as each generation progressed.

    I was rude previously but I was also being direct. We cannot have a society that is very lax with procreation which leads to failed parenting and child-hood discipline and yet pretend that the issues in schools are new.

    Students were having babies while going to schools renowned for their academics and other student life since over 40 years . So it’s not about ‘polishing’ as it is about waking up to the problems that have been there for at least two generations now.

    There is little room for error as we have seen from our big country cousins that the advent of the internet has seen students bullied with the medium into committing suicide. Our country is not immune.

    This rampant sexual explosion of teacher-student relations must be addressed forcibly with penal punishment. Students’ rights can be respected even as they are held to acceptable standards of discipline.

    And we cannot equate adult behaviour (the teachers’ failings) with those of students. As much as they may not like it the old saw of ‘do as I say and not as I do’ is as valid in 2016 as it was in 1976.

  43. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @ac May 5, 2016 at 6:06 AM “Govt as employer of teachers and Minister Jones as minister in charge of the Education…should call an urgent meeting with all the teachers in a timely fashion at his request a place and time of convenience.”

    I don’t know what ya smoking ac, but stop it right away.

    You suggestion won’t happen and indeed shouldn’t happen.

  44. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @ac May 5, 2016 at 8:24 AM “those who have a political axe to grind.”

    Nobody on this blog is more political than you ac. Nobody.

  45. Simple Simon Avatar
    Simple Simon

    @Iggi Brathwaite May 5, 2016 at 10:25 AM “Where did these 50 somethings who are leaving their parents and grands in senior homes.”

    Don’t be too hard on those of us who have had to put our parents in nursing homes.

    But what would you do if your elder had dementia and was prone to wandering, and you had to go to your job because you had young children to support.

    I did not want my elder to die up hungry, thirsty and lost alone in a gully.

    I did not want to withdraw my children from school as soon as they turned 16.

    Sometimes we have to make very, very difficult decisions.

  46. Well Well & Consequences Avatar
    Well Well & Consequences

    http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2016/05/06/moved-to-tears-2/

    A voice of commonsense.

  47. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Simple Simon,

    Once they are visited regularly and occasionally brought home (depending on their condition) for weekends or holidays and still made to feel part of family, there is nothing wrong with the homes.

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