Teachers in the public schools across Anguilla resumed their duties on Monday this week, September 2, fresh from an Appreciation Day on Friday, August 30, held at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium.
It was the Eleventh Annual Teachers’ Appreciation Day which had as its theme “Teachers Opening Doors For A Brighter Tomorrow”.According to many of the teachers, it was a well-needed boost for them to continue their task of teaching despite a number of difficulties in the classroom.
President of the Teachers’ Union, Emma Ferguson, in an emotional address, commended her colleagues for a most outstanding job in educating their students through Primary School and the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School. She was referring particularly to the success of many students in the CXC Examinations as well as the teachers who prepared the students for entry into the Comprehensive School this year. “Your labour has not been, and is not being, in vain,” she encouraged the teachers.
“Although we finished the last school year with adversity, we have come back charged and ready to take the world by storm,” she continued. “Last year’s theme was ‘Stand Up For Teachers’. As the world calls for teachers, what are we going to call teachers to in Anguilla? I call you to take on the challenge to be overcomers. I call you, in spite of adversity, to arise and go forth in excellence…Let us call for the Ministry and the stakeholders to wake up and value the door-keepers of this nation: we who mould Anguilla’s greatest resource which is our children. The Anguilla Teachers’ Union sent you, but the nation must respect you.
“We say thank you for your labour, your skills and resources. Thank you for all you have done. Let us go into the classrooms of this island with our armour on. Let us come fully dressed not only to improve the profession, but to mould our island through our children.”
Newly-appointed Minister of Education, Jerome Roberts, speaking on the theme of Teachers’ Appreciation Day, said in part: “This ceremony is intended to show appreciation for our teachers and it is quite fitting. Teachers play a key role in national development and their contributions should never go unnoticed. ‘Teachers opening doors for a brighter tomorrow’ speaks to the improvement of the current state affairs. It speaks to national development. National development is the ability of a country to improve the social welfare of its people whether by providing social amenities such as education, portable water, transportation, infrastructure or medical care…
“Teachers are responsible, to a large extent, for the development of our human resource. A school is one of the first places where a child’s behaviour and education…are shaped. Teachers are carriers of either positive or negative behaviour towards students. This is the reason why the first years of school are so critical because this is when children learn the basis of their education life. This, to a large extent, impacts our future human capital.
“Teachers should love their career in order for them to pass on enthusiasm to assist students and to provide a warm environment for them. Teachers are the second parents of the students because students spend a lot of time with their teachers. At the same time, a real teacher becomes such through many years of training and experience in the field. Teachers in fact carry out various roles and functions and there are many words that can be used to describe good teachers. If I can borrow a phrase I heard quite recently, ‘If education is power, then the teacher, as a dispenser of education, holds the secret to that power’.
“This goes a long way in showing that if we are to build our human resources, a key component of national development, and if we are to produce the next pioneer or the next scientist to find a cure for AIDS, good teachers hold the secret to that power. Teachers hold the secret to improving social welfare and national development. Teachers hold the key to opening the doors for a brighter tomorrow.
“In this New Year let us pledge to work together to improve where we all can. On behalf of myself, and the Ministry of Education and the Government of Anguilla, I commit to doing whatever is possible to assist you to open doors for a brighter future. On this occasion, we recognise your hard work and dedication – and I hope that you are all motivated and inspired to undertake the year ahead with vigour and zest. Today I ask teachers to look at your role in a positive light and the impact it has on the lives of our students in your care – and the overall impact on the future of Anguilla and its development. Continue to open doors to a brighter future.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Education, the Government and people of Anguilla, thank you all for what you have done thus far to open doors to a brighter future for our children in your care. I trust that you will approach this coming new school year with renewed enthusiasm, knowing that your role to open doors to a brighter future is a critical one.”
The Minister’s address was generally well received. It was felt by some teachers, however, including the President of the Teachers’ Union, that he should have apologised for the disparaging remarks he allegedly made against teachers at a House of Assembly meeting.
The teachers were also addressed by Anguillian Methodist Minister, Rev Erica Carty. She pointed out that teachers had a huge responsibility to ensure that the education system was producing the quality of persons with the necessary skills and knowledge needed in today’s world.
She contended that our modern, technological society was not placing enough significance on the value of education, and that this would eventually affect children. She referred to various types of technological devices that were engaging the attention and focus of children, some of whom were of the view that school was boring and that there was no excitement in learning.
Rev Carty advised teachers that while this and other challenges appeared to be discouraging, their task was still to help create a brighter future for all students.
Other persons who took part in the opening ceremony were Mrs Tracelyn Hamilton of the Vivien Vanterpool Primary School who chaired the proceedings; Mrs Julet Simon, President of the Early Childhood Education Organisation who brought greetings; and Minister Johnny Castor who was in Anguilla for a series of religious activities geared to family life and children.
