Thanks, and rest well, Miss P

Jan 06, 2018 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I learnt of the passing of Ms. Sybil Patterson by way of a letter appearing in your newspaper, written by my friend and mentor – Mr. Michael Parris.
For whatever reason, in recent months I found myself thinking of Ms Sybil Patterson.
This was a bit strange, since we were not close at all. Our contact was limited to the classroom, and those were rare moments. But close or not, it would have been impossible to be involved in social work in the 1970s and 1980s and not know or have been a student of Ms. Patterson.
I first met Miss P (as she was fondly called) in the 1970s as a student pursuing the Commonwealth Diploma in Youth Work. I recall one day sitting with fellow students from the various islands of the Caribbean, discussing the challenges we face when working with young people.
It seemed we all identified as a common challenge, a seeming lack of interest in the programmes we offered, and attributed this lack of interest to their (youth) restlessness and greater concern for things other than study.
I remember Ms. P listening carefully to our complaints, then asking how the content of the programmes was decided on. To a man, we replied that we relied on our experiences as youth workers and that of our supervisors to influence content. She then asked, “What about what the young people want?” We looked at her in surprise.
She continued “If the content of the programme is all about what you think is important and does not also reflect what the students want to discuss, why are you surprised when they show no interest? It’s your programme, not theirs.” Right then, I learnt the importance of respecting those we claim we want to help.
A little later, at the University of Guyana, I was a student of Miss. P. By then, I had developed a love for reading, and would spend most of my days and nights satisfying this love. Indeed, on entering the university, filled with conceit and arrogance, I was certain I knew more than those who would be guiding the classes; so much so that I would rarely bother to study, choosing to rely on my previous readings and trickery to suffice.
Once Ms. P gave the class an assignment which required that we read a specific book and be prepared to discuss its content. As you would expect, I did no such thing. At the discussion session, I took issue with what the required reading suggested and went on to state my own views on the topic, while attributing them to a writer with whose work I was familiar.
Miss P listened to me then said, “Claudius where did you get that? On page (she named page) of the book you are citing, the author said …” I was stunned, how could she do that? I thought there was little chance anyone else, would be familiar with the book that I referred! I sat down, speechless, embarrassed.
I had learnt my second lesson – never assume you know more than the other person.
Thanks Miss P, may God grant you peaceful rest. I pray that in all I do; I bring credit and honour to your memory. We, who were fortunate to know you, will always remember you with fondness and gratitude.
And, if all of Guyana had the same opportunity, the nation would mourn your loss, especially at this time when it seems the nation needs persons of your calibre most.
Claudius Prince

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