Devon Dick

On Teachers' Day, Wednesday, May 9, 2007, Inez Jackson, the master teacher, celebrated her 90th birthday. This milestone was marked by a lovely function at the Courtleigh Hotel last Saturday.

One of the tributes mentioned that Aunt Inez, as we affectionately called her, and her late husband Samuel Jackson, who arrived at Glen Stuart Primary School, Maggotty, St. Elizabeth, in 1952, believed that they could make, something out of every student. It was asserted that no student failed external examinations and so parents from near and far sent their children to them. There is a true story about a boy who failed the third year exam close to 10 times and thenwas sent to the Jacksons and he succeeded. They were pioneers of the present motto that 'every child can learn, every child must learn'.

Inez Jackson and her husband also had the ability to facilitate students excelling. One of her past students, Lloyd Finlay, now a shipper in Florida, recalled, at the function, that he developed a love for mathematics because of Mrs. Jackson. And he came fifth in mathematics at Mico and later became head of the department of mathematics at a school in the Bahamas all because of Inez Jackson. Finlay, in his tribute on behalf of past students, made a roll call of outstanding past students including Earl Singh (engineer), Lileith Daley (lecturer) and at least 15 doctors, including Dr. Moses Peart of UWI, and the Dixon children. According to him, the most outstanding was my brother, Ainsworth, now a commissioned land surveyor. Ainsworth passed first, second and third year before he did the Common Entrance exam at age 10. Having no experience of third year, I do not know what is the equivalent exam today. Under the leadership of the Jacksons, at least one of her students got the Marcus Garvey Scholarship, the highest scholarship offered, based on the results in the Common Entrance.

MENTOR

Inez Jackson also believed that students should be well rounded. Everybody was taught to play the piano and to sing. One of her outstanding students, who sang on Saturday, Corine Brown West, was entered in the Festival competitions at a young age. When I went to Glen Stuart Primary, Inez Jackson was the principal and her husband had moved on to become an education officer. It was then that I learnt to play piano, sing and entered Festival doing a work song. Her niece, Lileith, taught me how to dance. But her most outstanding music student and niece is Shortwood lecturer, Lorna Coke, who achieved the LRSM - the highest theoretical piano designation.

Inez Jackson was also involved in the community. She organised many events on behalf of the JAS, JCDC, cricket teams, coffee workers and even school dances.

The role of Inez Jackson as a Christian was highlighted by Reverend Ashley Smith, C.D. She was mentor to him when he was a young pastor in the Retirement Presbyterian Circuit. She advised this young pastor about where he went and whom he visited and whom he should not visit alone. She also forewarned him about the reaction he would get for playing on the Maggotty cricket team with the boys. The other elders were not amused with the pastor being exposed to indecent language. Her pastor, Reverend Dave Spence, called her a blessed lady who was punctual and never missed a Sunday worship service.

Although the Jacksons did not have any children of their own, they loved all children and reared many. The teachers' cottage was home for many. From the 1950s to the 1980s, there were at least nine children in their home at all times.

Inez Jackson, a master teacher, touched thousands of lives, making something beautiful of each child, developing valuable citizens, living the philosophy 'every child can learn, every child must learn'.