Dear Editor,
Emancipation Day 2015 is now behind us, and by now we must have realised that there is a disconnect between the historical significance of the day and most Jamaicans. Interestingly, this is not the case in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago where Emancipation Day is also observed.
However, this lack of bonding to Emancipation Day is not surprising since the teaching of history, specifically West Indian history, is not widespread in many of our secondary schools. The teaching of history should be compulsory for at least the first three years of high school in order to raise awareness and foster a sense of identity and pride regarding our heritage, which includes Emancipation Day as well as other culturally significant days. In fact, we should give history the same attention as the core subjects of mathematics and English language in the curriculum, instead of viewing the subject as an afterthought or add on.
Disturbingly, not only is the spirit of Emancipation Day dying, but also the awareness of our young people regarding where they are in the human story. We are at a critical juncture in our nation's development, and there is hardly any indigenous Jamaican culture anymore due to the intense cultural penetration from North America which we have gladly embraced.
It appears as if Emancipation Day is being treated like a stepchild who no one really wants but who is tolerated to some extent. This attitude is unacceptable, especially for a country whose population is over 90 per cent of African descent.
We need to redouble our efforts at empowering the people of Jamaica, especially the youth population, by infusing the school's syllabi with civics and heritage studies, and educating our students about their past in order for them to successfully navigate a bright future.
In the words of Marcus Garvey, "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots."
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Reconnect to Emancipation history
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Emancipation Day 2015 is now behind us, and by now we must have realised that there is a disconnect between the historical significance of the day and most Jamaicans. Interestingly, this is not the case in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago where Emancipation Day is also observed.
However, this lack of bonding to Emancipation Day is not surprising since the teaching of history, specifically West Indian history, is not widespread in many of our secondary schools. The teaching of history should be compulsory for at least the first three years of high school in order to raise awareness and foster a sense of identity and pride regarding our heritage, which includes Emancipation Day as well as other culturally significant days. In fact, we should give history the same attention as the core subjects of mathematics and English language in the curriculum, instead of viewing the subject as an afterthought or add on.
Disturbingly, not only is the spirit of Emancipation Day dying, but also the awareness of our young people regarding where they are in the human story. We are at a critical juncture in our nation's development, and there is hardly any indigenous Jamaican culture anymore due to the intense cultural penetration from North America which we have gladly embraced.
It appears as if Emancipation Day is being treated like a stepchild who no one really wants but who is tolerated to some extent. This attitude is unacceptable, especially for a country whose population is over 90 per cent of African descent.
We need to redouble our efforts at empowering the people of Jamaica, especially the youth population, by infusing the school's syllabi with civics and heritage studies, and educating our students about their past in order for them to successfully navigate a bright future.
In the words of Marcus Garvey, "A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots."
Wayne Campbell
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
Reconnect to Emancipation history
-->