Dear Editor,
The Bustamante High School, located in Lionel Town, Clarendon, is trying to survive in spite of the challenges that it faces. The school encounters a lot of problems that I know are not unique.
First, it has a major shortage in classroom space and school furniture. This is compounded by the fact that it is situated in a community where some of the members seem intent on extorting the school in every way that they can.
The school is not well supported by parents as the Parent Teachers' Association meetings have a better attendance from the 50 plus staff members than of the parent population for the over 1,100 students. The teachers contend with class sizes of over 45 students in most cases, but continue to do their best. In terms of academic qualifications, approximately 85 per cent of the teaching staff hold a first degree or higher, so knowledge is not in short supply.
My main reason for writing this letter is that I am sick and tired of the people who know nothing about what goes on at the school, who never took the time to visit the school to acquire information about the school for themselves, spreading propaganda about its staff and students by any means possible. These persons speak with "such authority" that others tend to buy into their false stories. The principal and her staff are making significant strides in changing the school.
The school, just like many upgraded high schools, is faced with some problems, but just like Denbigh High School — the most highly rated upgraded high school in the parish — they are working to overcome the obstacles and to one day shine.
What I would love for these detractors to do is to find a way to support the school and its efforts to make a difference in educating the students, in spite of where they are from. The school gets students who have a lot of challenges, both behavioural and educational, even some with disabilities, and the staff makes the best of the situation.
Also, I would love for the educators in some of the primary schools to desist from encouraging students not to choose Bustamante High as one of their GSAT choices. In the last five years, between 2008 and 2013, the school has received close to 1,500 pupils through GSAT placement, and of that number less than 45 students have an average of 50 per cent and above, and more than 50 per cent are reading at two to three grades below their level. The number of student reading at the pre-primary level is unbelievable considering it's a high school.
But even though the school gets the students at that level, like other schools, there is a success story to tell. In 2009, the school got a number of students passing six CSEC subjects and more, in 2010 there was one person who left with 10 CSEC subjects, another with 11 subjects, and another got nine. There were, too, a number of students passing six subjects. In 2011, a young lady got 11 CSEC subjects along with other successes. The school has done very well in 4-H Club competitions, they have won environment competitions and football competitions at the parish level. And, they recently placed in the top ten of the islandwide i3 Innovation Ideas Ingenuity competition.
So as the school waits patiently for the 2013 CSEC results, the success story is on track for a new chapter to be added. So detractors change your tune and become a supporter and let the educating of the nation's youth at Bustamante High continue.
A Bustamante High School Supporter
bessblesswane@hotmail.com
Give Bustamante High School a chance
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The Bustamante High School, located in Lionel Town, Clarendon, is trying to survive in spite of the challenges that it faces. The school encounters a lot of problems that I know are not unique.
First, it has a major shortage in classroom space and school furniture. This is compounded by the fact that it is situated in a community where some of the members seem intent on extorting the school in every way that they can.
The school is not well supported by parents as the Parent Teachers' Association meetings have a better attendance from the 50 plus staff members than of the parent population for the over 1,100 students. The teachers contend with class sizes of over 45 students in most cases, but continue to do their best. In terms of academic qualifications, approximately 85 per cent of the teaching staff hold a first degree or higher, so knowledge is not in short supply.
My main reason for writing this letter is that I am sick and tired of the people who know nothing about what goes on at the school, who never took the time to visit the school to acquire information about the school for themselves, spreading propaganda about its staff and students by any means possible. These persons speak with "such authority" that others tend to buy into their false stories. The principal and her staff are making significant strides in changing the school.
The school, just like many upgraded high schools, is faced with some problems, but just like Denbigh High School — the most highly rated upgraded high school in the parish — they are working to overcome the obstacles and to one day shine.
What I would love for these detractors to do is to find a way to support the school and its efforts to make a difference in educating the students, in spite of where they are from. The school gets students who have a lot of challenges, both behavioural and educational, even some with disabilities, and the staff makes the best of the situation.
Also, I would love for the educators in some of the primary schools to desist from encouraging students not to choose Bustamante High as one of their GSAT choices. In the last five years, between 2008 and 2013, the school has received close to 1,500 pupils through GSAT placement, and of that number less than 45 students have an average of 50 per cent and above, and more than 50 per cent are reading at two to three grades below their level. The number of student reading at the pre-primary level is unbelievable considering it's a high school.
But even though the school gets the students at that level, like other schools, there is a success story to tell. In 2009, the school got a number of students passing six CSEC subjects and more, in 2010 there was one person who left with 10 CSEC subjects, another with 11 subjects, and another got nine. There were, too, a number of students passing six subjects. In 2011, a young lady got 11 CSEC subjects along with other successes. The school has done very well in 4-H Club competitions, they have won environment competitions and football competitions at the parish level. And, they recently placed in the top ten of the islandwide i3 Innovation Ideas Ingenuity competition.
So as the school waits patiently for the 2013 CSEC results, the success story is on track for a new chapter to be added. So detractors change your tune and become a supporter and let the educating of the nation's youth at Bustamante High continue.
A Bustamante High School Supporter
bessblesswane@hotmail.com
Give Bustamante High School a chance
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