The Editor, Sir:

I would like to piggy back on Samantha Simpson's article in The Gleaner, March 26, titled, 'Teachers, stay in Jamaica!'

My daughter and I were born in the United States and we are Jamaican citizens by descent. My daughter's father is Jamaican so are both my parents. I pulled my daughter out of a top school by American standards in Park Slope and sent her to Jamaica to attend St Theresa's Prep. It's been three years now and it will require 10 of these letters to list her accomplishments in math, reading, composition, history, personal and emotional growth. Her educational plan of action consists of attending Immaculate Conception or Hillel Academy, University of the West Indies, London School of Economics then to Harvard to study law.

I want everyone to know I appreciate all of my daughter's teachers and thank them once again for helping her to realise her potential.

I want to reiterate to our Government that we have to provide a higher level of economic stability for our teachers. Has anything been outlined in the Budget to increase pay for our teachers?

Will incentives, eg, transportation re-imbursement, lunch stipend, serious affordable housing, workshops that provide support and to enhance teaching skills be in place to make solicitations from countries like the United States, United Kingdom and Canada seem like an insult?

I support Samantha Simpson when she shouts, "Teachers, stay in Jamaica!" What I want to shout is, "Give teacher's a liveable wage with incentive if we want to keep the crown jewels of our country!"

I am, etc.,

D. COOPER

dorine.cooper@credit-suisse.com

Via Go-Jamaica