The Editor, Sir:

Your editorial of April 15 begs numerous questions. First, why the scrutiny of the mathematics and English language results of Claude McKay 'Comprehensive' High School in particular? After all, in spite of her special circumstances, she outperformed a few traditional high schools in both subjects, her dismal performance not withstanding. Why was she blatantly singled out from the large sample of upgraded schools? Such an act falls nothing short of a deliberate attempt at character assassination and in the editorial of the most widely read local newspaper at that! You go, girl!

'Dismal failure'

Claude McKay is of international fame but I would wager that the vast majority of Jamaicans, including many under 30, have never heard of the man. Why should this school's 'dismal failure' take centre stage while institutions, named for great statesmen of immense popularity, Bustamante and Norman Manley, are relegated to less than minor roles on the education scene?

Claude McKay's scores were highlighted even to the point of underscoring while far more terrible ones were omitted, except for the intimation at the zero received by Robert Lightbourne. Then, too, isn't Haile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia, a household name in Jamaica? How then could Claude McKay assume greater renown than His Highness?

Potentially self-destructive

Ironically, your final recommendation would be potentially self-destructive if we, as school administrators, were not so magnanimous and resolute in our vocation. However, as such, we decry the popular culture of 'war' and will not allow our collective spirits to heed the battle cry which you echoed so inadvertently by inviting us to ' though far outnumbered... show us brave'. Such a response would simply eliminate 'the common foe' Claude McKay style:

"And for their thousand blows deal one death blow!

What though before us lies the open grave?

Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack,

Pressed to the wall but fighting back!"

I am, etc.,

GLENNOR A. WILSON

Principal - CMHS

claudemckay@cwjamaica.com

glennorwilson@yahoo.com