Retired Headmistress and current lecturer, Mrs. Esther McGarrell, is a ‘Special Person’

Sep 26, 2021 News, Special Person

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Reflecting on 50 years of service to the education sector…

“Teaching is the job I enjoy tremendously and I give my best wherever I am placed. Many of my students would boast that I was the best English teacher they ever had.”

By Rehanna Ramsay

Kaieteur News – When Mrs. Esther Mc Garrell started her teaching career on September 13, 1971, Guyana’s education sector was undergoing a transformation.

It was just four years after the nation was declared independent from British rule and Mrs. McGarrell, then Miss Boyce, was among the first batch of teachers to help craft lessons to hone the academic capabilities of some of the then freshly independent Guyana’s future leaders.
The country’s education system was on the cusp of transition and McGarrell and her peers were conduits of that change. It has been 50 years since McGarrell embarked on that noble career path as an educator and today, she reflects on her years of service.

THEN AND NOW
During the interview with Kaieteur News, this week’s ‘Special Person’ explained that when she started teaching, remnants of the British rule were still in place. She recalled that “it was a stricter system; many schools were still managed by Catholic, Methodist and Anglican boards and therefore certain things were prohibited, for example, unmarried teachers could not get pregnant, they would be sent off the job because it was seen as an immoral act…”
“It was not like today where the system is very liberal,” she added.

When she embarked on her first teaching job at the Endeavour and Commons Primary School in Canal Number Two, Polder on the West Bank of Demerara, McGarrell recalled that the school was one of few education facilities within the miles of several villages along the West Bank Demerara.
At the time too, there weren’t many school buses or options for transportation but McGarrell recalled that the students made their journey to school on foot or the very fortunate used bicycles daily, and they came on time because they were eager to learn.
“I remember when I was going to school and even when I started teaching, there weren’t many buses or cars. Many students had to walk for miles to get to school and some of us, like me, had chores to do in the morning before we left home but we were never late because we knew we would get flogged with the wild cane that would be waiting for us as we arrived at the school gate. Looking back at it now, I understand why; it was a good practice because it taught us to be disciplined with time and helped us to be better more responsible adults,” said McGarrell.
She noted that as senior mistress, she often had to reprimand her younger teachers about their tardiness.

McGarrell said, “They were always armed with an excuse but I always used to tell them if they were practising being early as students, it would be easier for them to implement that behaviour as they got older and into the working world. That’s the problem with some of today’s youth, they are too lax with the responsibility for their time and education, back then, we had responsibilities, we had to get up and go and we got things done on time.”

EDUCATIONAL VALUES
Reflecting on those days, Mc Garrell recalled that there was a time that education was an expensive commodity; Guyanese were paying for their schooling and most families could not afford to send their children to school.
However, this was not the case in her household as her parents, Mr. Samuel Boyce and his wife Noreen, made the sacrifices to ensure that each of their 10 children attained a sound educational foundation.
The patriarch of the Phoenix Town (Coghlan Dam), West Bank Demerara (WBD) family was a contractor and his children’s education was paramount.
“My father ensured that we had enough food because he knew food was important for the brain to function properly and he also ensured all of his children were given a fair opportunity to get an education,” recalled McGarrell.
As such, McGarrell, their 2nd child of the 10-sibling household, attended the St. Swithin’s Primary School where she excelled in her academics. She did so well at the Common Entrance that she did not have to pay to attend the West Demerara Secondary School—the top secondary school in Region Three.
At the West Demerara Secondary School, McGarrell obtained secondary education certificates.

TEACHING CAREER
The family then opted to let their young daughter enter the teaching profession at the Endeavour and Commons Primary – a district school at Canal Number Two Polder, WBD.
However, her time at the Canal Number Two Polder school was short-lived as she was transferred to the Malgre Tout Primary School which was in need of teachers at the time. Having a desire to develop her skills as a teacher, McGarrell entered the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) where she attained her Class One, Grade One trained teacher’s certificate.

After completion, she moved to read for a Bachelor’s Degree majoring in the English Language from the University of Guyana. On successfully completing this feat, the teacher was transferred to the Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary School; she spent a few years there before she was promoted to the senior mistress at her alma mater – the West Demerara Secondary School.
She had applied for the position and because of her qualifications, her request was granted by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
McGarrell recalled that she faced a little disappointment though, as she was seconded back to Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary for another five years by the Regional Educational Office. She was needed at the school as the region wanted to accommodate a teacher who was leaving the interior to attend the University of Guyana.
She recalled feeling as though “this was an unfair choice,” but she nevertheless complied with the request.
After serving her time there, McGarrell left to take up a position as Deputy Headmistress at the Charlestown Secondary School where she became instrumental in setting up a number of facilities including the first computer lab for the students.
“I led the project to help set up the computer lab and held discussions with the overseas chapter to invite sponsors to get this done,” she said.
Among other things, McGarrell recalled that during her time at Charlestown Secondary, she worked with the teachers to help raise the academic performance of the students. Under her stewardship, Charlestown Secondary was twice awarded the most improved school in terms of its performance at the Caribbean Secondary Examinations Council (CSEC).
Due to her diligence and commitment, within three years, she was promoted to the position of Headmistress at that very school and within nine years of serving at Charlestown Secondary, McGarrell was promoted to Principal of St. Stanislaus College – one of the country’s senior secondary schools.
There, she spent five years. While at the Stanislaus College, she was instrumental in implementing the first school board to assist with the management of the institution.
“With that system in place, we got more help from our overseas chapter; we were able to furnish the computer labs and get more material for learning. We were able to supplement payments for the school’s security system,” she said.

In fact, because of her dedication, McGarrell recalled that both Charlestown and St. Stanislaus College received awards for notable achievements at CSEC while she was head of the schools.
McGarrell would serve as Principal of St. Stanislaus College until her retirement.
She asserted, “teaching is the job I enjoy tremendously and I give my best wherever I am placed. Many of my students would boast that I was the best English teacher they ever had.”
And though officially retired from the public school system, McGarrell continues to render her service as a lecturer at CPCE and the University of Guyana (UG)’s Institute of Distance and Continuing Education—roles she has occupied for more than 20 years.
Prior to her retirement, McGarrell did not only pursue her Bachelor’s Degree but she obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Education majoring in Administration. She was also fortunate to attain qualifications in other studies such as a course in managing the environment, social sciences, and other courses. As such, she is well equipped to function in her role as a lecturer for two top tertiary institutions.

OTHER VALUES
Apart from her secular work, McGarrell is devoted to her family. She was married to her childhood sweetheart the late Meryl McGarrell for in excess of two decades and their union produced four boys— Earl, Esauu, Ewaul and Eron – two of whom are trained teachers like herself. The other two children are devoted military men following in their father’s footsteps. Additionally, McGarrell is also a doting grandmother to her five adoring grandchildren.
When she isn’t involved in her career or family life, McGarrell spends a lot of time involved in the work and development of her church. She is the people’s warden at St. Swithin’s Anglican Church for the past 30 years.
She told Kaieteur News that she is involved in the activities of the membership of her parish.
“I am the overseer for all that concerns them, all activities such as weddings, funerals, and other church events, I help to plan them and implement them,” she said.
McGarrell confessed that she thoroughly enjoys her role in this regard. She said, “I love doing charitable work, not only for my church members but for the members of my community.”
The retired Headmistress avails herself to assist those in need whenever she can. She helps persons from her church and community write job applications, and even signs off on their recommendations, where necessary.
She also assists young people with their academic studies. “I work with them in their social studies, history, and principles of business assignments or if they need assistance with their SBAs, I never turn them down as long I can help them,” the retired teacher added.
McGarrell noted too that she is also a counsellor in her own right. “I am always giving advice to the young and the old. In church and out of the church, I love people…” she said, adding that her motto in life is to always remain humble. “…Because those who humble themselves will be exalted and those who exalt themselves will be humbled as I always tell people, you must live a life today so that tomorrow, you will be pleased with your yesterday.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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