Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

The 22,000-member Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) was on Monday challenged to speak out against issues affecting the nation's schools and children.

"You've got to get up and speak out when those folks, who try to make it impossible for us ... ," Reg Weaver, president of the National Education Association (NEA) in the United States, told delegates and observers during the JTA's 44th annual conference at the Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort and Spa.

"We have to fight these people with every ounce of strength that we have. It is our responsibility to let these kids know how much you care about them," Weaver said in a no-holds-barred speech.

Meanwhile, he argued that the impact of violence disrupts the learning process, including vio-lence perpetrated by students against teachers. He noted that educators could not continue to employ the same strategies to combat violence in schools, as it did 40 years ago.

The educator said student behaviour had changed and new ways would have to be examined to address the perennial problem of violence in institutions.

Achievements

Weaver, who is the boss for the NEA's 3.2 million members, said the JTA should be proud of its achievements.

He noted that from its very beginning, the JTA had been a strong advocate for early childhood education.

"As educators, we recognise that early childhood programmes are still important in a strong education system."

Weaver said when the World Bank pressured the Ministry of Education to close small rural schools, the JTA spoke up and represented the interests of these isolated communities.

He empathised with the JTA, which he said was fighting to combat the ravages of violence.

"These fights will not be easy but you are not alone. Other educators around the world, including the NEA, are here to help.

Here to help

"We are here to help because we know that in today's global economy, it is in our best interest to spread freedom and democracy, and the best way to do that is by investing in the education of children," he said, adding that investing in education is a sure way to build strong communities and families.

Weaver said education was the key to unlocking the potential of human beings.

However, he noted that for too many children in the Caribbean region, the door was still unlocked, saying that even in a free market economy, it would remain closed if we fail to invest adequately in our schools and teachers.

"Teachers need support and ongoing professional development. We need tools and other resources- so we can help children success."

He added: "And we need to be treated as allies and not adversaries by our elected leaders."

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com