Mcintyre

WESTERN BUREAU:

Denham McIntyre, principal of Cornwall College, has called for licensing of teachers and a review of the process by which education officers are appointed.

In a wide-ranging speech, the educator did not mince words, decrying teachers who fail to live up to the highest traditions of the profession. He called for greater accountability to curb falling standards in education.

"What is sad is that too many teachers view teaching as a job or task and not as an active duty. It is true that teachers are underpaid, but I can never recall when at any time any government remunerated teachers adequately for the job they do."

Poor attitude

He also chided the poor attitude of some teachers.

"The teacher who views teaching as a mere job, regardless of how brilliant or well qualified he or she is, will never be satisfied with his or her salary regardless of how much he or she gets.

"That teacher will ensure that he or she exhausts or exceeds all the leave facilities available and creates more (absence), always complains about students attitude and underachievements and berates administration and complains about everything," McIntyre said.

Stick to curriculum

McIntyre was the guest speaker at an appreciation function held at Starfish Resort in Trelawny for Bruce Dale, retired principal of the Wakefield Primary School in Trelawny. Dale gave 33 years of service to the school as principal.

The keynote speaker was emphatic that teachers should be forced into following the curriculum by using pre-prepared lesson plans. He also called for the speedy introduction of teacher licensing. Such a licence, he believes, should be renewable every three years.

McIntyre also clamoured for greater school supervision. He suggested that the mere acquisition of book knowledge should not be the only basis on which a person is appointed an education officer. Rather, he suggested that such persons should be drawn from the cadre of successful principals and vice-principals. He cautioned that teachers who were known to be slackers in the classroom should never become eligible to become education officers.