The No Child Left Behind policy will be felt when we churn out students who are academically limited

Nov 28, 2010 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I express my unconditional and unreserved support for Mr. Cleveland Thomas, Head Teacher of the Christianburg Wismar Secondary School in his stand against the policy of the government, which bans the non-promotion of students who haven’t met the academic requirements of their grade.
My support for Mr. Thomas is based on:-
1. His educationally sound justification for refusing to implement the so called policy.
2. My experience with Mr. Thomas as my former math teacher, supervisor, and mentor.
3. The negative effect that the banal policy will have on the school leavers in Guyana.
It is always amazing how we pretend to adopt policies from the west and other developing nations, while we do so in total isolation of the realities that informs and justifies the policy.
We see some practices in other countries that are eye-catching and we are always ready to cherry pick the element of it that suits our purpose and try to adopt that.
I am no sociologist, but such a practice leads to a cultural misfit. When seeking to implement a policy on our nation, we must examine the realities in our own society and determine the effect it can have on our populace.
An attractive sound bite or the desire to seem sophisticated or progressive should not lead us to adopt things that we can’t even begin to understand.
Whoever dared to craft a policy where students will be promoted to the next grade regardless of their academic progress in the current grade has attained a level of incompetence never seen before in the education sector in Guyana.
The No Child Left Behind policy which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush intends to give each child the fairest opportunity to receive quality education.
It provides opportunities for success and resources that would improve the pedagogical experiences of every child who is enrolled in school.
The following are the main provisions of the act:-
* Title I, Part A supports programmes and resources for disadvantaged students. Title 1A funding is designed to aid districts in closing the achievement gap by placing highly qualified teachers in classrooms.
* Title 1, Part D is designed to serve delinquent and neglected youth in institutions, day
programmes, and correctional facilities to assure they attain high academic levels of achievement.
* Title II, Part A provides resources for improving teacher and principal quality. It focuses on preparing, training, and recruiting high-quality teachers and principals.
* Title II, Part D facilitates improved student academic achievement through the use of technology in the schools.
* Title IV, Part A provides resources for fostering a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports academic achievement.
To compare what the Ministry of Education is calling ‘No Child Left Behind’ to this comprehensive piece of legislation is rank madness.
Even with this law, students have to repeat a grade if they do not qualify for the next grade. Could the Minister explain how could a child do fractions if they can’t add? How can a child solve simultaneous equations if they do not understand the rules of positive and negative numbers?
The disastrous effects of this policy will be felt in three or four years when we churn out a lot of students who are totally bankrupt academically. When children become aware that they cannot be asked to repeat a class, they will be less motivated to work hard and achieve a passing grade.
Not all students have the parental support and other requisite social structures that will allow them to move at a normal pace in school.
Some students repeat one grade, then move on to do exceedingly well in the grades to come. I would really like for the framers of this policy to explain to the nation its philosophical justification.
Mr. Thomas has been an educator, serving the Linden community exceptionally well since the early eighties (or longer). He is a trained teacher and a two-time graduate of the University of Guyana.
I remember when he was my math teacher in fourth form; he did whatever it took to reach us and counseled us in becoming successful young men.
He explained the realities of the world and taught us that education was the key to success. I will never forget that ‘Thomo’ had an embargo on me where I was not allowed to speak at all.
With the usual calm and levity he said ‘If you are to pass this class you must say nothing and just focus on the board’. Today I thank him for such yeoman service to the students of Linden.
What further bothers me is that this colossus in education is a well-qualified math and science teacher. In other parts of the world they are a cherished commodity. Mr. Thomas always said that he has no intentions of leaving Guyana.
Even as demanding as being a quality head teacher is, this man plants his yard and uses other economic initiatives to boost the peanuts that he is paid.
This is a man that could be making US$100,000 per year easily overseas by just teaching alone. He has chosen to remain and serve and is now being harassed because he is doing what is best for the children of Linden.
It is even more ironic that while he is being harassed, a convicted child molester is allowed to practice medicine in Guyana and the authorities are looking for every reason to allow him to continue his craft.
A statutory body and the court of law convicted this man, and there is the possibility that he could continue practicing medicine on our women and children.
I commend the PTA for the stand that they are taking and encourage them to continue to be resolute in their support of Mr. Thomas. He has already achieved in every sense of the word. It is your children’s future that is at stake here.
Note that when these decisions are made it is not always with the best interest of communities that have the similar demographics like Linden.
We do not have recourse to expensive private schools, because we do not live in the lap of luxury awash with cash. We cannot get into UG through the backdoor, because we do not know anyone in high places.
We cannot wake up one morning and at 22 years of age land a million dollar government contract. We cannot take a note from a high ranking politician and get a job.
We do not get breaks like the sex talking lecturer at UG who got a slap on the wrist for the most unprofessional conduct which even bordered on criminal. Yet Mr. Thomas is acting in the interest of your child and he is being harassed.
Carry on Mr. Thomas; serve the children of Linden so that they will not be left behind.
Jerrick Rutherford

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