The stance of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) in relation to the Ministry of Education's (MOE) master booklist proposal is a painful reminder of what is terribly wrong with the thinking from some who have risen to the zenith of the educational matrix.
In these times of austerity, the Government proposition was calculated and is likely to ease the financial burden of many struggling parents who have found that the traditional booklists have been stacked with books that never have been used by the same teachers who the JTA president has imbued with wisdom, professional integrity, autonomy. How did these unused books get there in the first place, if the judgment of the teachers is so unerringly sacrosanct?
The lettered erstwhile principal from a struggling high school, now turned JTA president, has typecast the educators as inerrant experts who ought not to be lectured by ignoramus ministry officials (my words). He vowed to defend the apprehended teachers should sanctions be imposed for their failure to adhere to the new policy. Should the teachers unwittingly pander to his declared mock battle, and say, the JTA successfully defends them, oh what a phyrric victory it would be.
The question to the JTA is this: Is not the interest of the students the interest of the JTA? Are petty political squabbles with Government now the JTA's stock in trade, even if it amounts to arrant folly? What is your explanation to thousands of families who would stand to benefit from this policy, but find themselves casualties of your latest public relations frolic and grandstanding?
I believe the MOE should hold its position, as the JTA's in inimical to the interests of the average Jamaican family.
Wat Ching
wat.ching@yahoo.com
JTA's arrant folly?
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In these times of austerity, the Government proposition was calculated and is likely to ease the financial burden of many struggling parents who have found that the traditional booklists have been stacked with books that never have been used by the same teachers who the JTA president has imbued with wisdom, professional integrity, autonomy. How did these unused books get there in the first place, if the judgment of the teachers is so unerringly sacrosanct?
The lettered erstwhile principal from a struggling high school, now turned JTA president, has typecast the educators as inerrant experts who ought not to be lectured by ignoramus ministry officials (my words). He vowed to defend the apprehended teachers should sanctions be imposed for their failure to adhere to the new policy. Should the teachers unwittingly pander to his declared mock battle, and say, the JTA successfully defends them, oh what a phyrric victory it would be.
The question to the JTA is this: Is not the interest of the students the interest of the JTA? Are petty political squabbles with Government now the JTA's stock in trade, even if it amounts to arrant folly? What is your explanation to thousands of families who would stand to benefit from this policy, but find themselves casualties of your latest public relations frolic and grandstanding?
I believe the MOE should hold its position, as the JTA's in inimical to the interests of the average Jamaican family.
Wat Ching
wat.ching@yahoo.com
JTA's arrant folly?
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