Without a properly educated population, our roads and bridges will be meaningless

Nov 04, 2023 Letters

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Dear Editor,

Some seven years ago, on a visit to one of our Grade A schools in Georgetown, a senior teacher described acts of immorality and uncouth behaviour among both boys and girls. Up and until recently I assumed this was an aberration.

Unfortunately, based on recent events and interventions I had with families in Georgetown, Linden and West Demerara, it appears that the loss of a moral sense and the judgment of what is unacceptable behavior is now pervasive in our schools, particularly our Secondary Schools and if not checked, can lead to the decay and ultimate dismemberment of what is left of our society. Further, I hope that the recently acquired loan of ninety million US (US$90M) dollars for human development is not capriciously applied and that a substantial sum will go towards the training of teachers and the improvement of our educational system, the bedrock upon which  a modern and viable society is built.

A cardinal aspect is that apart from the teachings of our respective religions the condition and beliefs of communities and the spirituality of the home environment, the school, in particular our primary and secondary schools must be able to deliver to and saturate the minds of this generation in what simply put is a moral sense. Be reminded in the review by Elmer Sprague that “In the first half of the eighteenth century certain British philosophers argued that moral sense as an instance of virtuous  action is the occasion for a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction which enables us to distinguish that action as vicious. The moral sense is also an influencing motive in our pursuit of virtue and our avoidance of vicious behaviour, and it plays a part in our bestowal of praise and blame.”

In our society, for whatever reason, many of our children have come out of broken homes, under the strain and stress of a rising cost of living. This, of course, is another matter, not germane to the plea and burden of this letter. If what is abroad, that is, a lack of moral behaviour, the use of illicit drugs including something I only learnt of this week, the use of a “vape,” a battery-operated device available over the counter. Since this smoking apparatus is considered harmful, it should be illegal for stores to sell the same to any school child.  A matter that the Ministry of Education should bring to our parliament for appropriate action. The money we have must be spent to train our teachers and educators to overcome the extant fallout among our children.

We have, for example, evidence that there are some secondary schools established as no more than money-making enterprises, where pedagogy is on the back burner, compassion and giving guidance to teenagers are irrelevant. This is not education. The building of poorly constructed school buildings and enriching a few is a small step to produce a generation of citizens capable of coping with a new world of science and advanced technology. Editor, what is clear as crystal is that our education system has not kept pace with a society that is vulnerable to every new excitement without the appropriate support systems neither at the family unit nor at the community nor national level. A caring government and a concerned Minister of Education need to take account of these factors as they roll out programmes for education.

When as is the case, particularly in private schools, that our teenagers are for most of the day and week confined in a classroom for long hours, with one hour lunch-break, it is a recipe for boredom and hence attraction to smoking and other activities, which as we say in the old days “addle the brains,” producing a generation as one of our Holy Books observe “ a generation of vipers,” ill prepared, of course, with a few exceptions to contribute and benefit from  a rapidly changing world, and a country as in Guyana’s case, a country with an abundance of money..

Some forty years ago, when the developed countries announced the donation of money, boats, arms, and training to combat the threat of the narco-trade and the mafia in North, Central,  South Europe and the Caribbean, I proposed to some diplomats that a substantial portion of those resources be directed to ensure that every educational institution is provided with quality, cultural and sporting  programmes. This by itself, will consume the energies of our teenagers in healthy competition. A useful distraction from the monotony of being confined in a classroom.  That alone would absorb the energies of our young people into useful competition and help them to recognize the importance of physical fitness and the harm that smoking and the consumption of illegal substances can incur.

I believe that now that we have the financial resources, this is the route to go. If our Government truly cares for Guyana, this programme can fly after a few short months, place an identification of games masters and mistresses to every school.

No secondary schools, public or private, should be allowed to open their doors unless the facilities are in place, both academic and extra-curricular excellence, such as a laboratory, some musical instruments and sufficient land for indoor and outdoor activity. This is why an earlier vision to make education free from kindergarten to university should be put in place. This by itself will create a level playing field for this and succeeding generations.

In an earlier generation, there was no knowledge of illegal substances in or out of school. We produced brilliant scholars. At my secondary school, we had the excitement of our annual track and field day, which  included sprint events up to the one mile high jump, long jump, hurdles, pole vault, shot put, throwing the crooked ball. Additionally, we played hockey, cricket, table tennis, swimming, using GFC Pool, football, chess, Boy Scouts, A Cadet Corp, even boxing gloves to settle matters in a mannerly manner and a small gardening patch, and in spite of efforts I never produced anything edible. I knew then I can never be a successful farmer. We produced plays by famous authors and at one time, we had a choir. When we sang with a lack of ear sound, we brought tears to the eyes of the musician, Ms. Lynette Dolphin, who could not tell the difference between the boys singing and monsters in the jungle fighting or monkeys chattering.

Briefly speaking, we do not need to reinvent the wheel, we can revive our Annual Music Festival, Guyfesta and even Mass Games, so that each child has a basic programme of extra-curricular activity and healthy competition. In other words, with a non-political programme, we can release the creative energies of every student from the Northwest to the Corentyne, from the Rupununi to Georgetown. I plead with our current crop of leaders to set aside pettiness and think about the above so that we can leave to succeeding generations, a country that is truly united, truly capable and plays a leading role in the exciting new world that beckons.

Finally, let us respect our Constitution and our tradition and the Government must engage at all times, the Guyana Teachers Union, the recognized representatives of Teachers. Back in the 70s, we asked a rhetorical question, Can we do it?  ” I hope with hands held high, President Ali, Aubrey Norton, Khemraj Ramjattan, Bharat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Lincoln Lewis, our youth and religious leaders can hold hands together and respond loudly and with clarity say “Yes, we can, yes we will.”

Let us use this opportunity to concentrate on what I consider a national priority, that is building, boosting our human infrastructure. Our buildings, our bridges, our roads are meaningless without strong people and Guyanese will never surrender.

Yours faithfully,

Hamilton Green

Elder

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• Aubrey Norton, Bharat Jagdeo, Donald Ramotar, Hamilton Green, Khemraj Ramjattan, Lincoln Lewis

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