Pre-school Teachers in Anguilla were given a well-needed boost when they were told how very special they are to early education and learning – and were complimented on their work.
They received the compliments from Pastor and Educator, Rodwell Grant, who, for over two decades, has been actively involved as an evangelist and educator. A national of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, he is an ordained Pastor at Bethany Gospel Hall in Anguilla. His ministry has impacted Bermuda, the Caribbean region, Latin America, South America, North America, Europe and Nigeria.
Pastor Grant’s secular activities in Anguilla include being a government social worker. He was the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony for Early Childhood Month in Anguilla at the Rodney McArthur Rey Auditorium on Wednesday, March 3. He told the pre-school teachers:
“Although my training is secondary academic education, I have great admiration and respect for pre-school teachers. Their job takes on a different level of specialisation, dedication, preparation and integration. I have observed teachers’ creativity at its best to make teaching aids – and managing the children’s ability in order to produce positive outcomes. Every opportunity I get to speak with Early Childhood Educators, I remind them of how special they are and how much I appreciate them. And I think this is a fitting time to recognise and applaud efforts of all pre-school teachers in our midst.”
Among other matters, he said: “It is important that we maintain positive discipline in our children’s life. Positive discipline in no way seeks to abuse. There is a clear distinction between discipline and abuse; and oftentimes because we seem to not want to offend anyone, because we want to maintain healthy relationships with our children, parents have reverted to do less discipline and leave their children up to their own expectations. I believe that we should not over compensate our children. It is good to be one with good behaviour, but excessively compensating them will lead to complacency and create the expectations of life’s high demands as they go through life. I also believe that we, as parents and teachers, that we need to model positive relationships.”
Pastor Grant holds a Diploma and Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from the University of Guyana; and a Master of Science degree in Childhood Studies from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a recipient of the prestigious Chevening Scholarship which was awarded to him in 2017.
Another main speaker, at the opening ceremony for Early Childhood Month, was the Minister of Education and Social Development, Ms. Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers. “The goal of Early Childhood Education should be to activate the child’s natural desire to learn…In each setting, it delivers different cultural practices and different training and teaching levels, all of which help students learn and develop.”
Quoting from a report, she stated that “early childhood education is more than preparation for primary school. It aims at the holistic development of a child’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs in order to build a solid and broad foundation for life-long learning and well-being. Early childhood education has the possibility to nurture capable and responsible future leaders.”
The Minister stated that short term success in childhood education was measured by the students’ developmental improvements in pre-reading skills; language skills; social and emotional skills and pre-math skills. She pointed out that measuring success in the long term was much more complex, with several challenges to take into account.
She joined in commending the pre-school teachers for their contribution to early childhood education, and wished them continued success in their endeavours.
Early Childhood Month in Anguilla continues as follows: A Church Service at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, Island Harbour at 7.15 am on March 7; Professional Development on Wednesday, March 10 at the Teachers’ Resource Centre, at 1.30 pm; Children’s Services at their respective churches from March 15-18; Sports Day on Friday, March 19; Virtual Parent/Teacher Session, Wednesday, March 24; Parents’ Appreciation Day, Friday, March 26; and Teachers’ Appreciation Day on Tuesday, March 30.
