Let the flowers bloom

Interpretation of reading matter is the foundation of all educational pursuits. It is the vehicular source of living in our day to day communication and association with others. Have we observed the majority of students who walk our streets daily? What messages are they relaying to us? The frustrated and depressed faces express: We are attending school, but what satisfaction is there for us when we have tried our best but cannot cope?

Two basic needs for students are: The need for success and the need for acceptance.

No wonder, there are so many dropouts from the school system and many who mark time until the school years are over. And what then? Therefore, is it any surprise now that we are faced daily with aggressive and challenging behavioural patterns of students. Just imagine in this day and age of superior learning students who are unable to cope with primary level academia are being dumped into the secondary forum under the caption "Education for all."

Isn’t this a vivid memory in miniature of the Middle Passage experience where persons without their cooperation were forced into positions and expected to perform at their optimum? This was done without seeking their interests for social and intellectual development of their inert talents and capabilities.

Teaching is an art, it takes love for students, willingness, ingenuity, training and experience to adapt subject matter to the interest and suitability of pupils especially those in the majority who are underachievers and late developers.

There are no "short cuts" in assisting these pupils to analyse and imbibe the varied concepts and explore the subject matter. Should we add insult to injury? No never!

The educator should have easy access to technological resource tools or materials in the classroom. Notably, students who attain a level two education in the past era are still efficient tradesmen in today’s society with the ability to estimate with clarity the materials necessary for a required job. So it’s time that we dispense with "talking book of education" and adapt the school’s curriculum in relevance and suitability to the pupils’ need. This is the most tangible way to achieve results from money invested in education.

Suggested solution: Build technical schools in catchment areas of our country, teaching basic skills in the learning process: measuring, calculating, estimating, interpreting of reading matter and social communicating with peers — morning session.

Subsequently, use the motivation of these basic skills to practise and teach various vocational trades according to the pupils’ abilities.

This business needs urgent attention so there’ll be education for all and students will be an asset to the society in which they reside. Let the wilted flowers bloom again.

ELEANOR WILSON

Mason Hall