Face Reality

With 35 years of service to her credit, acclaimed social worker and educational psychologist, Dr Dorrell Philip, said: “We all need to start accepting blame and responsibility for the level of violence and indiscipline in the nation’s schools today, instead of trying to run from the problem.” Speaking with People at her Woodbrook office, the soft- spoken Dr Philip sought to provoke some insightful thinking as she questioned, “whether we have given the children what they need.” According to her, such violence “has taken almost 25 years for this thing to smack us in the face,” — and the solution? “We need to change the environment, the home, the school and the community,” claimed Dr Philip, adding that “it is not a short-term solution,” but one which required lots of dedication and commitment.

As if carrying the enviable titles of mother, grandmother, doctor, friend and humanitarian aren’t enough, the “good doc” has also taken up carpentry. She has even built a kennel for her beloved dog, Spice, with her own hands! Questioned as to why she chose psychology, she said that upon leaving school, there “were not many choices” and it was either teaching, the Public Service, and if you were light-skinned, banking was an alternative. Revealing that she discovered quite early that she loved interacting with people, Dr Philip first began teaching at the Caparo RC School, before marrying at the age of 23  and moving to Venezuela with her husband who worked for an oil company. She had been transferred to three primary schools within a five-year period; however, it was at the Petit Valley RC School that she became involved in the development of the “whole child.” Born to a housewife and a father who was a book-keeper at Woodford Lodge, she erupted into laughter as she revealed that her siblings (two older sisters and two younger sisters) were all...you guessed it — teachers.

After realising her true passion, she made the choice to work with adolescents and last taught at the Belmont Orphanage, which is now known as St Dominic’s Home. After returning to Trinidad in 1978, she became a member of the board and was later promoted to the post of chairman, a post that she has held for the last 20 years. Even though her physical appearance totally belies her age, this 70-year-old,  eagerly greets each new day with the enthusiasm of a 30-year-old, as she can hardly wait to see what surprises are in store for her, if any. He hobbies include travelling, puzzles of all kinds, collecting antiques, gardening, carpentry, and while her friendships are important to her, among the top takers on the list is her work. Asked what her children are currently doing, the “good doc” said while her daughter and one son still reside in the US, her other son has returned home with the excuse that he has to take care of her, but (she suspects it’s because he likes Trinidad). Dr Philip obtained her first degree in psychology at Princeton University, then later studied for her Master’s in Social Work at Fordham University, on a scholarship. While living in the US, she ran the Short Term Adolescent Remedial Treatment (START) Centre, a home which afforded emotionally disturbed adolescent girls a buffer, coupled with the counselling, love and attention they deserved but were deprived off.

Since returning to Trinidad, she has been in private practice with colleague and friend, Dr Sharpe, and emphatically says: “I don’t see any changes for the 22-year-old partnership.” Admitting that “if you want to do community work, you must have money,” she disclosed that while she consults with private companies, she also offers free consultations to select persons. Returning to the question of school violence, Dr Philip believes that many persons labour under the misapprehension that by substituting their time and love with money, children will be and are satisfied. However, she refutes the theory claiming that this angers children who are rightfully deprived of  basic human qualities, and instead, they become angry at teachers and parents as they feel “we have failed them.” “It is time for us own up to it,” admonished Dr Philip.

Speaking of the Homework Centre, an initiative which will soon be implemented by the Ministry of Education, Dr Philip applauded this decision, stating that it will go a long way in providing some of the attention children do not have at home, as well as a forum for them to express their feelings on what a nurturing environment should be. In conclusion, she said, “it only sometimes takes one teacher to make a difference in a child’s life.” Dr Philip remains firmly rooted in her belief that once parents get involved, “the opportunity in society to make a difference in a lot of areas” would arise as “leadership has a lot to do with how a school turns out.”