Jamaica: A student who cannot spell 'cat'!(H.S. teacher exposes breathtaking extent of edu. crisis)

The Jamaica Gleaner ^ | November 24, 2005

[Stoat]

LETTER OF THE DAY - A student who cannot spell 'cat'!
published: Thursday | November 24, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM writing this letter to you based on my experience. I am a teacher at an upgraded high school in Jamaica and I must say that we are making strides in CSEC passes and the performing arts. However, I am appalled from time to time by the kind of students who are entering the high school system.

I met a student recently who could not spell the words, 'mother', 'cat' or her last name, albeit the name is a bit difficult. When I asked her to spell 'me', she asked me what is me. She did not understand or recognise the word 'me'; neither could she spell it! I was amazed!

INCORRECT SPELLING

There are students in the system who don't even know the letters of the alphabet much less spell a two-letter word. Believe me, I am not joking. This is quite disturbing for me. At the end of the five years of high school if these children have passed one CSEC subject or if they are able to read at a grade six or seven level, they have done extremely well. Take my word for it.

So, my question is: How did they reach so far without being able to read? And doesn't the Ministry of Education see the GSAT results before students are placed? What is being done about it? At our end, we can only try to help them to read and as we know, the ability to read is crucial to the completion of a proper education.

So when I hear people blaming the teachers for CSEC failures, I sigh, but sometimes I laugh a mirthless laugh, because they do not know half of what goes on in our schools. I hope people who wish to speak would wake up and see for themselves what is happening in our schools.

I am, etc.,

BRIDGET

THOMPSON-DUNKLEY

amelia_bdunk@hotmail.com

Kingston 20

Via Go-Jamaica

[Stoat]

Jamaica Gleaner News - Jamaica's growing education crisis - Thursday November 24, 2005

Jamaica's growing education crisis
published: Thursday | November 24, 2005

TODAY'S LETTER of the Day on the page opposite points to a crisis in education which has been growing at the root of the system and may well be escaping the highest levels of policy projection.

This letter from a high school teacher in Jamaica is a stark exposé of the fact that some children at that level cannot spell words as simple as 'me' and 'cat'.

This is not the first indication of a crisis that needs urgent attention. An earlier Letter of the Day published on November 2, made the point that the Junior Schools' Challenge Quiz aired on television is revealing the poor standard of preparedness of children at this level for higher education. The writer made this judgement from the responses to what were very simple questions by students both from government primary schools as well as preparatory schools.

This letter prompted a response published on November 7, from Mrs. Dorothea Whitehorne of St. Ann, who is a member of a group involved in scholarship examinations for high school students. Her letter published on our editorial page gave what we titled 'Samples of the Education Crisis'. Those samples were a random selection of answers to exam questions over the years which Mrs. Whitehorne said "may seem amusing were it not so serious and so sad." Among those answers: slavery was abolished in the years 1742, 1888 and 1969; and Jamaica achieved independence in 1982!

Both major political parties prior to the last general election in 2002 had education as one of the major planks of their manifestos. The subject continues to be a major policy objective of both Government and Opposition to this day.

But policy is a far cry from the results that the school system continues to show. From what we have cited it is obvious that the earliest stages of the education system must get priority treatment. Children should not be pushed through from preparatory to primary, secondary and then tertiary without the foundation they need for each stage.

We share the frustration of the high school teacher having to deal with students ill-prepared at the earlier stages for a new level of learning. The education authorities must put in place remedial measures to ensure that the commitment to a new emphasis on early childhood education gets real results. In the long run the whole system must feed into every level of national productivity.

[Stoat]

Related item:

Jamaica Gleaner News - 1,476 MURDERS in Jamaica - LAST YEAR'S DEATH FIGURE SURPASSED - Thursday November 24, 2005

1,476 MURDERS in Jamaica - LAST YEAR'S DEATH FIGURE SURPASSED
published: Thursday | November 24, 2005

Byron Buckley and Glenroy Sinclair, Gleaner Writers

Superintendent of Police Newton Amos (left), head of the St. Andrew South Division, stretches across the table to converse with Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips, during yesterday's St. Andrew South Crime Prevention and Community Safety Forum held at the Church of the Open Bible, Washington Boulevard in St. Andrew. - CARLINGTON WILMOT/ FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER

AS Jamaica's murder rate reached a historic high this week, Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. Omar Davies, yesterday called on the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) to provide scientific clues to address the crisis.

Dr. Davies' call, made yesterday during the opening of a PIOJ conference, comes against the background of 1,476 murders recorded to date this year. The current murder figure is five more than the previous record set at the end of last year, with just under 40 days remaining in 2005.

According to police records, the majority of the blood was spilled in the St. Andrew South police division, which has 31 volatile inner-city communities. At least 243 persons have been murdered in the division this year.

The brutal killings in St. Andrew South continued yesterday morning as two men were murdered by gunmen at their home on Glen Road, off Maxfield Avenue. The victims have been identified as Dane McMurray and Morris Walters.

"There is a scope for us to rigorously and analytically examine what are the causal factors (behind crime)," Dr. Davies said during the opening ceremony of the two-day confab on economic and social development planning being held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

FACTORS CAUSING CRIME

"Based on that rigorous analysis, rather than in a sort of pontificating manner, (we need to determine) what are the causal factors (related to crime) and how do we stop the problem and ensure it is reduced over time," he posited.

He argued that while unemployment was a contributory factor, it was not the sole factor behind crime. Hence, the need for the PIOJ to research and analyse the root causes of the phenomenon.

In addition to crime, the Finance and Planning Minister instructed the planning agency to also provide policy directives in the areas of education, greater integration of the small and medium sized enterprises into the economy, the eradication of poverty, and increased adherence to environmental regulations.

Superintendent Newton Amos, the commanding officer for the St. Andrew South police division, said yesterday that inner-city youth were to blame for the rampant criminality in his division, which includes tough communities such as Whitfield Town, Payne Land and Olympic Gardens.

He said that, of the 242 murders there in 2004, 90 per cent of the persons arrested were young men between the ages of 16 and 35.

Superintendent Amos was speaking yesterday during the St. Andrew South Crime Prevention and Community Safety Forum at the Church of the Open Bible in St. Andrew.

MURDERS

YEAR AMOUNT

2004 1,471

2005 (to date) 1,476

TOP TEN DIVISIONS

ST. ANDREW SOUTH 243

ST. CATHERINE NORTH 208

ST. JAMES 125

KINGSTON EAST 118

ST. CATHERINE SOUTH 117

KINGSTON WEST 111

ST. ANDREW CENTRAL 110

ST. ANDREW NORTH 86

CLARENDON 85

KINGSTON CENTRAL 59

[fat city]

When I asked her to spell 'me', she asked me what is me.

On the plus side, they don't seem very ego-centric.

[prophetic]

in the USA we dont seem to be doing much better either.

[martin_fierro]

Jamaica: A student who cannot spell 'cat'!

Kiytt Pnig

[twas]

Just last week, an Hispanic teacher told me that she has a class of Hispanic grade school kids who can't grasp concepts such as living and non-living. She is extremely frustrated and has asked for help from the school but they just keep telling her to keep things simple for them.

What she went on to describe were children who would be classified as morons.

[reelfoot]

Maybe they can pass a Jamaican version of No Child Left Behind--decree from on high that all students will perform well.

Yeah, right.

[commonasdirt]

And on this Thanksgivihng I can be thankful that the turning of the big cosmic whoopie wheel did NOT cause me be born there

[eleni121]

This article does not suprise me any more. But may I assure you that this tragedy plays itself out in the US every day. The disease is called social promotion and its causes are many including teacher burnout, misplaced sympathy, racism, apathy, unionism, ad nauseum.

I am a college teacher and I can share a story - I'll make it quick.

Scenario: grad student in education. He is taking my online course in Advanced English composition because his advisor thinks he needs more practice in writing. Essentially he is a remedial English student who has gotten to grad school through social promotion! He sends me a research paper at the end of the course which has been lifted word for word from the internet. Now this grad student is American born, not an immigrant.

I confront him electronically as it were---and he informs me that I must be wrong - he has always gotten good grades and no teacher ever told him he had to cite sources when copying from someone else. I gave him an option but I should have instantly failed him: either do another paper or get an F.

He did a mediocre paper and passed with a D because I was pressured. If anyone wants details freepmail me.

[hinckley buzzard]

He sends me a research paper at the end of the course which has been lifted word for word from the internet

I have heard from an acquaintance who is a faculty member at a major state university that this is pervasive. Multiple websites serving up made to order term papers, and numerous "students" using them.

Many professors, especially adjunct and other untenured faculty, look the other way because if they bust the student they risk an unsatisfactory eval at the end of the course; and if this happens too often the prof's job may be in jeopardy.

Such is "higher education" in America today.

[Republican Party Reptile]

Terry Bradshaw moved to Jamaica?

[Clintonfatigued]

Jamaica has never been a particularly good place to live, but it seems to be getting worse every day.

[boojumsnark]

Hispanic grade school kids

Just wondering. Since Spanish is entirely phonetic (unlike English), what is the literacy rate? Learn your 28(?)-letter Spanish alphabet (include 'ch' and 'll') and you should be able to read anything.

Anyone have an opinion or statistics?

[speekinout]

Essentially he is a remedial English student who has gotten to grad school through social promotion!

Don't tell me - let me guess. This student is a member of a minority group.

I have a friend who was a high school English teacher for years. Social promotions had bothered her for years - she used to say that it was only her Advanced Placement students who made her think she was accomplishing anything. Then the school district decided they needed "diversity" in the Advanced Placement classes.

After a year of that, she retired.

[Slings and Arrows]

Kiytt Pnig

Your ping has been referred to the Complaints Department.

[Thanks to bluesagewoman for finding that pic!]

[NerdDad]

What in the name of all that is ugly IS THAT???

[U S Army EOD]

Meet Cindy Shekitty.

[Slings and Arrows]

It is allegedly of feline extraction - although heaven knows what was extracted.

[U S Army EOD]

Depends on what you mean by "if". Wonder if it was the same guy/

[U S Army EOD]

Maybe it has a good personality.