By Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter 
"...When students can turn against teachers it certainly is not a good picture." - Damion Mitchell photo
ON AUGUST 18 last year when Sadie Comrie, then president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) presented the badge of authority to Wentworth Livingston Gabbidon as the new head of organisation, he knew that his term in office would be no stroll in the park.
In fact, just hours before he was officially installed as the Association's 36th president, a JTA-commissioned study carried out among its more than 22,000 members was released. It indicated that the association had failed its members in some key areas scoring 43 per cent for representation, 47.6 per cent for financial management and 55.2 per cent for communication. Leadership and administration received a 59.9 per cent grade while quality of service was assigned 47 per cent and structure and function, 62 per cent.
But with less than three months to go before the end of what Mr. Gabbidon describes as a hectic presidential term, he is satisfied with his efforts to improve the organisation.
"I would rank my performance close to the top number," he told The Sunday Gleaner in an interview at his Church Street offices in downtown Kingston on Wednesday. He said that one of his main goals for more national focus on improving early childhood education was attained and that there was some strengthening of the JTA public relations committee to relate relevant information to its members But the president said he was disappointed that he was not able to institute a proper mentorship
programme for new teachers, which was at the forefront of his projections for the 40-year-old organisation.
"It was not as successful as we had expected," he said.
However, he said incoming president Michael Clarke has agreed to pursue this goal.
Mr. Gabbidon, who supports suggestions for a two-year presidential term to replace the existing one-year tenure said some of his projections as president were not attained because of the emergence of unplanned time-consuming events.
Topping this list of "distractions", he said, was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among trade unions and the Government that calls for, among other things, a two-year restraint on wage increases for persons working in the public sector.
The JTA's signing of the document was preceded by a series of consultations among members to solicit their support for the document and according to Mr. Gabbidon, it was a tough decision to endorse it.
"That was one of the most difficult times for us," he said adding that since the signing of the MoU there has been an increase in the price of oil. "And now we are hearing of an impending increase in utilities rates but that one I am sure is going to throw the whole thing into a whack, because there are going to be increases in other areas."
Turning to the gruelling issue of violence in schools, Mr. Gabbidon, though not making any proposal to address this issue when he assumed the presidency, said it was still major concern for him. "The nature of indiscipline and violent actions have really changed dramatically," he said. "I can't remember any time where we have had three students being killed allegedly by other students in three weeks."
NOT A GOOD PICTURE
And he said the situation was made even worse with students attacking teachers because disciplinary actions were taken against them. "When students can turn against teachers it certainly is not a good picture and it affects the teachers... it makes them wonder what they could have done to be treated so dishonourably," he said.
These occurrences have prompted Mr. Gabbidon to add another priority to his agenda to lobby for more government programmes to assist students with poor behavioural patterns. Already, he has had discussions with the educational authorities to seriously examine the issues leading to such behaviours.
In the meantime, he says the JTA hopes to table some solutions to the growing incidence of violence in schools before the end of the 2003/04 administration in August.
Mr. Gabbidon said that when the new administration kicks in, the new president will have to continue to emphasise professionalism among JTA members and further improve communication. The association seeks to chart a path to regaining the confidence of those teachers who believe the organisation has not performed creditably.
The Gleaner continues its watch on the JTA this week with daily features on the
candidates vying for the 2004/05 president-elect.
