Following the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11, 2001, the lone Trinidadian teacher at a US school, Ancilla Harding, had the tough job of preserving the peace relations between her students on her hands.

Ancilla is a Communication Arts and ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher of the International Academy at Montauk Junior High School, Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York. Her two classes combined, number over 60 eighth-graders – 14 and 15-year-old students. They comprise Russian bilingual students who are taught Communication Arts and students from Africa, Poland, Scandinavia, China, Spain, Russia, Pakistan and Bangladesh who make up the ESL class. What differences could possibly arise among the teens that would require Ancilla as mediator? Race issues! It’s not a teacher’s every day experience but it was Ancilla’s reality, after 9/11 when her international students, particularly the Russians and Pakistanis, became, automatic enemies. “The Russian students were telling them (Pakistanis) that all Muslims are terrorists and that they should die. This was based on what their parents were telling them and all the hype they were hearing. They were asking me if I could have separate buses for them to go on field trips and I said ‘no, we are all from the same race, the human race.’ I told them that I have lived with people of all races including Muslims in my country and I have never met a terrorist, ‘and for me to encourage you with this misguided information is senseless. I have lived with them.’ “I felt I had to protect my children and I told the other students that if they were being chastised I would defend them also. They started to think.”

When Ancilla checked her e-mail a few weeks ago, she was pleasantly surprised. One of her Russian students wrote: “Miss Harding…we’re doing a summer programme and we’re hanging out with the Muslims.” Ancilla was influential in overturning their prejudices and no doubt, she was pleased. “I knew in my heart my mission was accomplished,” she said. Of course, somewhere in the body of the e-mail were tales of how ‘Miss Harding’ was missed and, expressed interests of the student’s desire to come to Trinidad. That’s the common trend of the e-mails she receives from her students abroad. After teaching them much about Trinidad and Tobago, they want to visit. “What they know I know. They always ask to come. They know where it’s situated, the culture. When I return from visiting Trinidad I give them postcards of Maracas Bay, the National Birds and ask them to write about it (postcard) in their personal journal. I can relate with them because of my multi-cultural background, and I learn from them too. Like I learned from the Pakistanis that there are two Eids, a small one and a big one.”

Ancilla is currently vacationing in Trinidad and, it’s the custom every July/August to stop by at the Humming Bird Day Camp in Diamond Vale, Diego Martin to lecture to campers. A former resident of Diego Martin herself, Abel Street to be precise, Ancilla was never missing from Janice Quamina and Enid Alleyne’s day camp. For several years, in her youth she spent her holidays there – the place that inadvertently groomed her for her present job. She explained: “At the camp they didn’t give me any appointments until I made some adjustment in my attitude.” That came after staying on for a few years and doing what she termed some “menial” tasks. “Mrs Alleyne laid my foundation brick by brick. Mrs Quamina’s big word was ‘enthusiasm.’ It was great training for me so that now I am on the ball because of my training. It prepared me to become a functioning and focused teacher,” she told People. “So much so that the parent of a Russian student came to me and said ‘I liked you before I even met you,’” perhaps because of her ‘no nonsense-type’ teaching. Ancilla said that her 20-year practice of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism has also been the core of her continuous success.

The former student of Diego Martin Government Secondary and Queen’s Royal College, (where she pursued English Literature and West Indian History at A’level) migrated to the US to further her education. At the end of her first year at Kingsborough Community College she made the Dean’s list and received a teacher’s scholarship to attend State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook. “There I completed my BA and two Masters programmes in English and TESOL, to teach English to students of other languages. While at SUNY I received a graduate fellowship that enabled me to complete my Masters. The fellowship is still open to do my PhD.” Her first shot at teaching, her dream job, was at PS 399 elementary school in District 17, Brooklyn with third graders under her care. She moved up to teaching fifth-graders and was given “the bottom” (low average) classes. “At the end of my year, the principal, Mrs Mabel Robertson who is now retired said she had never seen any bottom class rise to the occasion. My students ended up scoring higher than the students in the gifted classes… The students I have taught have always had great successes.” However, never setting her roots too firmly or too long in any place, since “I get bored very quickly, I moved on to teaching 8th-graders… Now I’m working on getting my principal’s licence since my desire is to open my own school when I return to Trinidad. Maybe in four years or so.” Ancilla views her teaching, three years at Montauk to date, as “broadening my experience so that by the time I return home I would be the most effective in my field.” She has been the “big sister” of her former neighbourhood, helping children of her community from her youth up and her goal hasn’t changed. Her mission is making “my children” become global citizens and opening up a school “for everyone, the rich, the poor, the physically challenged and the mentally challenged.”

Princes Town beauty, Ferisha Mohammed knows about disappointment. However, she has also learnt how to rise above it and move forward. This young woman tells a heartbreaking story of her short reign as Miss Naturally Fair India, TnT queen. Having taken the title on May 24, 2002, Ferisha received the sad news that the pageant organisers were not prepared to send her to the international competition in Durban, South Africa. Further, the organisers removed her title and passed it to the first runner up when she queried their decision.

Speaking from her home at Sancho Road, New Grant, Princes Town, Ferisha said that this traumatic experience left her in a terrible state of mind. “I could not believe that the organisers had no plans to follow up with their advertised prize. I put all my efforts into this pageant, and with the support of my parents I was able to win the difficult competition. Only to be told that there was no finance in place for the international leg of this competition,” she said. When contacted, show organizer, Mahendra Rampersad said that the organisation has no further comment to make on the subject. As far as he is concerned the matter was settled many months ago. Today, more than a year has gone by and Ferisha has moved on. But she is reminded ever so often about it, when people would stop her on the streets and call her queen. She noted that she is now very cautious of the projects she enters. Ferisha is referred to as the princess of Princes Town by her fans. With a smile that lights up the room, this energetic and outspoken beauty is now deep into culture and social work in the southern districts.

The stunning Ferisha is the cousin of former Miss TnT and host of Scouting for Talent, Nazma Mohammed. She is assertive and focused. Ferisha seeks the interest of children in distress she spends a lot of time reaching out to underprivileged children in the Princes Town area. Ferisha is the only child of Sheriffa and Kamalludin Mohammed, who are in the auto mechanic business. Having successfully completed her CXC ‘A’ Level exams she is now pursuing a Bachelor Art in degree in Literature with a minor in History at UWI. Although she is currently enjoying the summer vacation, she follows a busy schedule of modelling, working in her father’s business and doing charitable work in her area. Ferisha who spent 14 years of her life in Canada said that it was difficult to settle in Trinidad and Tobago because life in Canada was a lot ‘faster’ than in Trinidad. “I would be up and out the house to attend some lecture or school project. Then I would get home to look at television and go out in the evenings to classes. Here in Trinidad the government offices get started at a later time. However, there are many things that she loves in Trinidad, such as the outdoors, the beaches and the food. She feels comfortable at home in Trinidad but she misses the fast life in Canada.

Ferisha is now working with the Princes Town Regional Corporation in a number of projects. She is involved in a sub-comittee working toward the planning of Independence Day celebrations. She is also a member of the Princes Town Theatre Workshop, where she is doing a major drama production for local stages. Apart from all this Ferisha harbours thoughts of becoming a politician in Trinidad and Tobago. “I know I could represent people and I know I want to serve on that level so definitely I am looking toward doing political science at some point in time so that I could pursue my dream,” she said with starry eyes. Recently she was asked to lecture to young people of the Cunjal Youths Group. She spoke to them about getting priorities in order. “I believe that we must set about life with a plan. It might not be the perfect plan but it is a plan. When you work with a plan there is less stress in your life. If one of your projects does not materialise, you can use your time wisely to accomplish something else on your plan,” she notes. This beauty claims that she is blissfully single and enjoying every bit of it. Well, whether it is as a politician or a beauty queen, Miss Mohammed will certainly have a plan.

Maybe Jeremy Sookdar would pass out his new soca release “Wine Yuh Waist” to his colleagues when he begins school at Mt Garner High, in Canada this September. But first, he wants to give the listening public in Trinidad a chance to test him out. Jeremy is 16 years old and already, has composed and produced, with the help of Ken Holder (producer) and Mark Wright (engineer), his first soca album. It’s called “Wine Yuh Waist” with the bonus track “Superstar”, released in 2001. The bouncy and energetic track is set to rival any Road March contender for Carnival 2004.

Last Sunday the budding artiste launched his two-track album before family and friends at Martin’s on Cipriani Boulevard. The compliments poured in, reminiscent of his feat five years ago at the Centre of Excellence. He was billed to open the two-day celebration of 36 years of calypso. The then 11-year-old braved the 2,000-strong audience, though he admitted to being somewhat “nervous at first” and rendered his solo performance of the national anthem on pan. He plays tenor. “I received a standing ovation on both nights,” he told People. “It was broadcast live on radio and my teachers said my performance was wonderful.”

His knack for the spotlight is no mere coincidence. “I was born to play music,” he said. His parents, Patricia and Warren Sookdar, have captured photographs of Jeremy singing for them in the living of their home years ago. He was a fan of the popstar Michael Jackson and would often hook up his father’s soundsystem, plug in the microphone and sing strains of “Bad” and “Billy Jean”. Of course, such fearless acts were only done before his family. He said: “Since I was eight years I used to put them to sit down and they would listen to me play pan and sing Michael Jackson songs. Michael and Machel (Montano) are my icons because I like their music, performance and how they both attract attention from their audiences.” After his performances became “a regular” at the Sookdar home, his mother saw potential. “My mother was interested… She hooked me up with pan tutor Edmund Charles. He also attended “Music School at the Normandie” run by June Nathaniel learning music theory and drums. He also played drums with Kernal Roberts.

Jeremy decided to travel the road of calypso and soca though a large consensus of his friends were listening to mainstream pop and reggae music since, he informed: “If you are a Trinidadian you should support your culture and your music. You have Duke and Sparrow, examples to live up to…” For those who choose his path, he said it shouldn’t be for “the fame, money and girls, it must be for the love.” His compositions come with just playing around with words and ideas. “Working with Ken Holder and Mark Wright was a wonderful experience. I still have a lot to learn. I realise I have to get into it (the behind-the-scenes part of it) if I love the music.” Background vocals on “Wine Yuh Waist” were done by Naila Joseph and Audi Hewitt of H2O Phlo.

Jeremy has charted his course and sees himself landing contracts and “going where no artist has gone before.” He explained: “As ah say in this song. I going to MTV… I want to be an entertainer, a superstar and have my own band.” He’s observed international performers, particularly rappers like “50 cent” and “I say wow! They’ve reached far but I try to understand the meaning of the music — who they sing about, why they sing it and where they’ve come from. For now, I’m just enjoying what I do.” Still a freshman in the entertainment arena his school friends are telling him “don’t forget me” when he “reaches the top.”

Jeremy is past student of Eshe’s Learning Centre, Ariapita Avenue and The Vanguard School, Lake Wales, Florida. Though music is his focus, he wants to concentrate on his studies first. “Yes, I want to be an entertainer and a businessman but I must reverse it. I’ll have to be a businessman first to handle business ‘cause people can rob you blind,” he said.  Thankfully, he added, his parents steered him in the right direction “from the start. Young people (interested in music) should ask for help and push to get where they want to be.  Go to a senior entertainer or someone who can help you. Seek your education and pursue your career. What I’ve learned has been a very good experience. It doesn’t mean that there wouldn’t be down times. However, I advise get up there and expose your talent. Don’t be shy, don’t be afraid. It helped me to be confident.”

There are forces in the teaching service that can push one out of this noble profession if one doesn’t, like Noble Laureate Derek Walcott’s Ti Jean in Ti Jean and his brothers, outwit the (devil) system. Such is the plight of Claire “Cutie” Watson.

These forces can range from physical dilapidation of some of our primary institutions to the quality or lack thereof of a national educational policy. There is indeed a continuum of problems and it is perhaps self-preservation that would lead a dynamic woman to say: “I would turn down any administrative post that would take me out of the classroom. The focus is on the students, it’s not on me — my students guide me into what I teach, how I teach, the scope and direction — it is a deliberate choice, one I’m happiest with.” But Claire didn’t make that decision overnight. It came after two decades in the educational system, during which time, she served a three-year term as General Secretary for the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA). “Teachers were going through a real hard time, and as staff representative at Naparima Girls High School I thought that teachers could influence the direction in which education was going…my reason for plunging (as secretary of TTUTA) is because I really thought I could make a difference.”

It was during her term as secretary (1995-1998) that Claire realised that there were several blocks to teachers influencing educational direction — the main stumbling block being, “…politics — lack of the political will to change priorities for spending and budgeting especially in health and education.” This she believed resulted in a situation in which “…what is best for the country and the needs of the teachers of the country” are too expensive to be taken seriously. But this teacher knows well that what is deemed expensive on a monetary level can well become expensive on a social level. “CXC doesn’t cater for the child’s creativity, it doesn’t make a child an independent thinker so that the child has the academic confidence to invent things like the Japanese or the Germans,” notes Claire. She describes the course called Technical Education, currently being offered on the SEMP curriculum, as, “…a lab that would meet any kind of creative impulse a child may have in any field.” Claire expresed some concern about whether the state will be able to maintain the schools built under the Secondary Education Modernisation Programme(SEMP), after the sponsors have left, since these schools are high-maintenance ones. She also believes that the issue of continuity between the SEMP curriculum and the CXC curriculum, needs to be addressed. The traditional schools already have the task of implementing both curricula side by side since SEMP doesn’t cater for French and other such subjects so there is the definite question of overwork on the teachers.

As far as CAPE is concerned Claire says that “It’s quite different from the A’ Levels that we are doing now, less difficult. The first part is meeting the gap between O’ and A’ Level.” But here comes the crunch line “A lot more work for teachers…there is a course component (portfolio assessment) and there is an oral component which could only be effectively workable if you are allowed to have smaller classes or more teachers.” explains Claire. CAPE is so good that the international educators are looking at it to adapt into their curriculum, like our pan is being effectively organised in other parts of the world. Claire likes it because it gives the students more flexibility in that a student can get a certificate and credits at the end of the first year, allowing the student to leave or change careers without losing a year of school. “It is more student-oriented,” she notes — a consideration often preached about but seldom practised.

What is Claire’s view of her role as secretary of TTUTA? “I was operating almost in a schizophrenic way for here I was negotiating in a capitalistic way for salaries, terms and conditions of work, hiring and firing in the union itself; acting as a trade unionist fighting for the teachers; debating with the Ministry and also having discussions with the social and business sectors. I had to wear several caps. It was a challenging experience.” What was even more challenging was becoming a member in a male dominated union. “The union evolved from where it was more male-oriented. It doesn’t really facilitate women joining in unless they can break it, in terms of the late hours and the social activities…women have to develop their own culture in the union.” Claire was present at the peak of the impasse between teachers and government and was instrumental in securing a non-taxable allowance for all teachers in recognition of their efforts. During her time, there was also an increase in salaries. Did she take the kudos for the teachers’ increase in salaries? No. “It was not the political will or the union but the loan from the IDB — SEMP programme where it was a mandatory condition to recognise teachers were professionals and to compensate them adequately. It was a package, and we had to fit certain requirements from the IDB before the loan could be accessed. The requirements included, improvement and upgrading of schools, training for teachers and general upgrading and reclassification of teachers.”

There was a suggestion of her going for the presidency of the union after her term but as the saying goes, it just wasn’t in the cards. Instead Claire is happier being a solid support for her husband, Dr Patrick Watson as he battles with the health situation as chairman of the North West Regional Health Authority. Next to that she is in the classroom at Naparima  Girls High School or busy with Tsian, her granddaughter. But Claire does have one wish and that is to see a national policy for education. “I am not comfortable with the lack of wholeness. We need a national forum where the nation could approve, vote on and become law so that no politics could interfere with it. “We should try and attract a better quality personnel in Education’s Human Resource department. We need young, vibrant people, especially in research, planning and training. We need to modernise the system and lastly, the people with the good ideas, hopefully, they will get the support” were the words of this soft-spoken courageous woman. Like her children whom she taught to “take your punches and roll with it,” she has done the same.