Dear Editor,
For a small country, Jamaica has produced a large number of distinguished sons and daughters who have brought the island justifiable fame. Most of these have achieved distinction in politics or in sport. In politics a partial list includes Marcus Garvey, the amazing Norman and Michael Manley, Alexander Bustamante, PJ Patterson, Edward Seaga, Portia Simpson Miller and Madam Rose Leon.
In sport, figures like Herb McKenley, George Headley, Alfred Valentine, and Usain Bolt come to mind. In the island's extremely rich music tradition are found Bob Marley, Peter Ashbourne, Stanley Beckford, Lucky Gordon, Mortimer Planno, and Levi Roots. And the different fields and names could go on and on to include such distinguished candidates for greatness and national recognition as Mary Seacole, Edna Manley, Philip Sherlock, Amy Beckford Bailey, Mary Morris Knibb, and Mervyn Morris.
Jamaicans have done well and continue to do well in various fields. Each year the national awards confirm this. Yet a vibrant nationalism also relies on fewer figures who made sterling contributions to help their country. While less luminary, they are no less deserving of national attention.
But Jamaica has not so far been able to weave these acknowledged singular personal achievements into a sort of continuous nurture stream that enriches Jamaican nationalism. This is not to say that Jamaicans are unaware of their illustrious sons and daughters. But the recognition needs to be indelibly bonded into the everyday consciousness of everyone. To do so we need to have more accessible information about our heroes and potential heroes.
One way to do this is to restore civics and civility lessons as an important part of the school curriculum at all educational levels. There was a time when every school in Jamaica reserved some time for pupils to review current affairs and do practical things. Boys did gardening. Girls did sewing and cooking. And everybody was told about significant figures in the past who contributed to the sense of self and identity of place. Of course, practical activities need not be gender-specific. But building Jamaican nationalism requires going back to the basics of yesteryear and the teaching of civics and civility.
Milton Dawes
Kingston
Building nationalism through civics
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For a small country, Jamaica has produced a large number of distinguished sons and daughters who have brought the island justifiable fame. Most of these have achieved distinction in politics or in sport. In politics a partial list includes Marcus Garvey, the amazing Norman and Michael Manley, Alexander Bustamante, PJ Patterson, Edward Seaga, Portia Simpson Miller and Madam Rose Leon.
In sport, figures like Herb McKenley, George Headley, Alfred Valentine, and Usain Bolt come to mind. In the island's extremely rich music tradition are found Bob Marley, Peter Ashbourne, Stanley Beckford, Lucky Gordon, Mortimer Planno, and Levi Roots. And the different fields and names could go on and on to include such distinguished candidates for greatness and national recognition as Mary Seacole, Edna Manley, Philip Sherlock, Amy Beckford Bailey, Mary Morris Knibb, and Mervyn Morris.
Jamaicans have done well and continue to do well in various fields. Each year the national awards confirm this. Yet a vibrant nationalism also relies on fewer figures who made sterling contributions to help their country. While less luminary, they are no less deserving of national attention.
But Jamaica has not so far been able to weave these acknowledged singular personal achievements into a sort of continuous nurture stream that enriches Jamaican nationalism. This is not to say that Jamaicans are unaware of their illustrious sons and daughters. But the recognition needs to be indelibly bonded into the everyday consciousness of everyone. To do so we need to have more accessible information about our heroes and potential heroes.
One way to do this is to restore civics and civility lessons as an important part of the school curriculum at all educational levels. There was a time when every school in Jamaica reserved some time for pupils to review current affairs and do practical things. Boys did gardening. Girls did sewing and cooking. And everybody was told about significant figures in the past who contributed to the sense of self and identity of place. Of course, practical activities need not be gender-specific. But building Jamaican nationalism requires going back to the basics of yesteryear and the teaching of civics and civility.
Milton Dawes
Kingston
Building nationalism through civics
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