Comments expressed by members of the teaching fraternity in Anguilla have been to the effect that the island’s several hundred teachers felt appreciated and encouraged during the just-ended series of activities commemorating Teachers’ Week 2014.
The highlight of the event was a Teachers’ Conference at the Rodney MacArthur Rey Auditorium on Friday, October 11. The teachers, whose emotions were stirred up by a short worship and praise session, were given a devotional address by the Rev Dr Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit and a former teacher in Anguilla, Dominica and the University of the Virgin Islands.
He advised the teachers that unless they held on to their cherished task of being the thinkers who impart thinking to their children, and “tease” out their possibilities, their work would be in vain. “We are living in the best of times – technology has changed our world – but we are still in the worst of times with crime, delinquency, now Ebola, AIDS and all the other things that are part of our modernity,” he said. “You are placed in these times – the best of times and the worst of times – and your job is to be the thinking mechanism for Anguilla. Like Esther of the Old Testament, you must be able to be aware that your stance will change our island hopefully for the better and not for the worse.”
He went on: “You are sowing in the garden of the mind. No one else can do that but the teacher. Parents try, but yours is that task given by God, or nature, to sow in the garden of the mind, and to tend that garden with inspiration and challenge to our students and sometimes to one another.”
The Methodist Minister described a teacher as an “eternal optimist who never gives up or gives in”. Among other expectations he impressed on the teachers the importance of avoiding being late. “Lateness says two things: one, we are indisciplined; and two, lack integrity,” he stated. “If we are going to lift the level of our culture and our society, we have to be standard-bearers – not only for issues, but in terms of value and our posture in the community.”
Rev Gumbs told the teachers that they must ensure that when they sowed thoughts and ideas in the minds of the children “there is going to be a harvest of ideas, some 40-fold, some 60-fold, and some 100-fold.”
Mrs Chanelle Petty Barrett, told the teachers: “I bring you greetings from the Ministry of Education as you culminate this year’s Teachers’ Week – a week which brings understanding, recognition and appreciation of the importance of the teaching profession. I also commend the Anguilla Teachers’ Union on the theme chosen for this week – Unite for Quality Education, Better Education for a Better World. This theme does not deviate in substance from the theme for World Teachers’ Day 2014 which is Invest in Teachers, Invest in the Future. Both themes acknowledge that teachers are at the core of quality education, and quality education is a central pillar in building the kind of society we all want to live in.”
The Permanent Secretary advised the teachers that they had the power to shape generations; that what they did in every day life had far-reaching implications; that children would not excel if they [the teachers], did not insist on excellence; and that they had to find an innovative way to reach children at their level.
“This is not new to you and I know that, armed with this knowledge, most of you are diligent, committed and passionate in fulfilling your responsibilities,” she continued. “On behalf of the Ministry of Education, I sincerely thank you; and I am not saying this for the sake of it. I am not saying it because this is what the PS is expected to say; but I am saying it because I truly mean it.”
Mrs Petty Barrett observed that the public could be “very critical, opinionated and downright disrespectful” without being aware of all the pertinent facts. She continued: “Teachers have not escaped the criticism of parents and other members of our community for one thing or another. In our society, we can always point out the perceived short-comings of others; but very rarely do we commend others when they have done something well. I want to step outside that mould today and, on behalf of the Ministry of Education, simply say thank you and we appreciate you.
“In particular, we want to thank all those among you – and I know that this is the vast majority – who are truly interested in the students’ success and overall wellbeing; those who see the value in every child, even when the child does not see that value in him or herself; those who go the extra mile to ensure that students fully grasp all aspects of the curriculum; those who diligently plan and execute their lessons; those who use their own resources to enhance their learning values; those who contribute to the various aspects of school life; those who embrace professional development opportunities and use that knowledge to improve the practice; and those who give their best every single day. We are pleased that you have chosen this profession. You give us hope that our education system can, and will, fulfil its role in sustainable national development.
“I ask one more thing: be your brother’s, or in this case, your sister’s keeper; help a colleague who may be struggling; give support and guidance where it is needed to make a difference; share good practice and ideas for new approaches; be an example to those around you. In this way, you will help to improve the teaching profession, education system and our society.”
Mrs Emma Ferguson, President of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union, told its members that by wearing the theme of Teachers’ Week on their t-shirts they had joined 170 countries globally in a campaign, through Education International, to meet the responsibilities of the teaching profession.
“Take pride in what you are doing and we thank you for your labour,” Ms Ferguson entreated the teachers. “We encourage you not to give up. Faint not. You may be weary, but press on. There is a greater reward and, if nobody tells you, let me again say thanks and we appreciate you.”
The feature address was delivered Dr Ronya Foy-Connor, Gender Development Coordinator. She spoke in detail about her experiences and achievements in life as examples which could be followed by teachers striving for personnel development and quality education.
“The energy that it takes to make a positive difference in a student’s life must not change,” she exhorted them. “We cannot get weary in well-doing; but remember that’s not the easy way out. Education never stops; it is energetic; it is involving. It will not wait for the weary to catch up. Education is a life-long experience. In those weary moments, I encourage you to find your support among inspirational individuals. It may be a co-worker, a supervisor, a friend – just find that encouragement where inspiration lies.”
