Does 'Math' Count?

The question is constantly asked on a daily basis as to the relevance of mathematics in certain professions. Everyone needs to know how to compute numbers. According to Norris, 2012, maths is needed not because it is needed for the sciences, but it also provides access to undergraduate courses in, for example, engineering, psychology, sciences and social sciences (Norris, 2012). Persons would also like to add that this subject is needed in everyday life.

In places of the society, different levels of mathematics are required. Therefore, looking at what our society is asking of its members, persons may view maths in three sectors:

1. job related maths: This type, one must have maths to be able to fulfill high level mathematical computations, e.g. teaching/lecturing in classrooms, seminars, workshops, etc.
2. occupational maths: This type requires the use of measurements, e.g. basic level – baking, sewing, woodwork or joining; Middle level – nursing, medical practitioner, medical, business owners, technologist, etc. and higher level – construction, engineering, etc.
3. operational maths: This one is general for all persons to have basic computation skills for every day life; like everyday people.

Maths count, it is agreed, but it is the believe that there should be various levels of maths that person should choose according to one’s chosen profession. If there is an occasion where one needs to make a change in profession, then there should be a maths competency exam that one should take to qualify in order to  make the transition.

The high school diploma maths should be a good base for many persons to take on. Also, HEART, along with the Ministry of Education (MOE) can provide operational mathematics which can be recognized world wide. The second level, can be offered between CXC and the MOE and naturally for the first level should be provided at the CSEC level.

It is time that mathematics make sense.  Make Maths Count!

INVESTING IN ICT AND THE BENEFITS

Many years ago, I missed the boat by not getting admitted at an institution that offered computer technology.  I applied multiple times from in my late teens to mid twenties.  This was in the glorious mid-eighties to mid 1990’s. However, when Bill Gates introduced Windows 1995, it gave me a chance to get back into my dream, well, somewhat!  I went to classes that were held by a computer technology teacher, and was able to use what I had learned into university later in life.

However, it was not until I purchased my own computer in 2000 when i felt like I have truly reached somewhere.  It might not have been where I really wanted to be professionally, I was a primary school teacher by then, but what I found was that I became the geek at the school where I worked.  I could assemble, replace, add computer parts.  I was able to utilize graphic programmes to make cards, and designs. But most of all, I was able to prepare letterheads, test items, time tables, etc. That I found was exciting!

Now that I have reached half of a century, I am still in the game! Not only that I can do the above named things, but I am actually ahead of my juniors, both in staff and students.  I find myself being able to utilize little tricks to insert media from various platform whether it be music or graphics into word document and to integrate many of the stuff into the classroom.  Social media, has it’s good and bad, but I focus on the positives.

I get a kick out of it when my students see that I am more versed with short cut prompts and social media inclusions. I even get down with the the text language, but the greatest thing for me is to see when students acquire something new and I in turn acquire knowledge from them. The willingness that they show me, because a teacher actually asks them for help in understanding a new “gig.” Also, my students feel good when they see that I show them respect after receiving the information and re-use it in their learning.  I guess it boils down to critical thinking, reasoning and not being afraid to try something new.  If I do not know, I ask, I search and I research and apply what I have learned to make the learning environment productive.

According to Green & Henriquez-Green, 2005, the basic moves of teaching are (a) having the classroom in a healthy, productive learning environment; (b) having the knowledge and the skill to set up an environment which includes being asked meaningful questions; and (c) knowing how to use assessment to ensure that learning has taken place.

So, no regrets for me, longer road to get there, I am happy with what I have acquired, but most of all, what I have given to my students is even better.

A Teen's Last Words to His Mother: Its Time to Go!

Music Teacher Lyssette Hawthorne lost her son to suicide earlier this year and wants parents to watch out for the obvious and not so obvious cries for help.

“I am a teacher and the mother of the young teen [Ruddy R], who hung himself on January 8, 2016. He was 15 years old, handsome, intelligent and talented. He was my first-born and although various interventions were put in place to prevent this outcome, he hung himself in a guinep tree,” Ms. Hawthorne told Loop News.

(Hawthorne — who appears to still be in deep mourning — asked that Loop News use the alias Ruddy R for her son in this story although she gave permission for his image to be used.)

He was a grade 10 student at a prominent high school, was exposed to the usual high school ups and downs.

“However, when I realized how deep in depression he was, I began to listen to what he had to say. One day, he firmly told me that there was no hope for him and so when he is gone, I am to remember what he went through upon entering high school and help others like him who are ‘stronger’ to make it through school. My son pointed out to me the stages that he went through until the point of his death:

“Stage one: Telling the story of a boy being teased to insanity by both classmates and several teachers.  Speaking about a classmate who was teased or heckled is sometimes a cover up of his own encounters about what happened in school.

“Stage two: Complaining about everything and being angry and becoming angry at siblings and or family members.  Not being patient, snappish in response and walk out of simple discussions at home or church. Some persons resort to stealing, self-mutilation (cutting), bullying and gang association.

“Stage three: Smiles are gone. Sometimes, silent tears fall from the eyes (sad eyes). The child sits in isolation and removed himself from his friends both from school and church. At times he played games, and locked himself away from the world and did not want to get out. When questions were asked, they were about death. Sometimes the child felt lost, expresses feeling of not belonging anywhere.

“Stage four: The stage of acceptance. Sometimes, the person sends the final signal that he is planning on leaving this unfair world behind. Sometimes drawings, death or dark drawings are seen. There are the online games that are linked to deep conquest. Then posts are made on posts that highlight the deepest darkest thoughts. The child expresses that there is no hope and wants to leave the torment behind. When gifts are given to the child, they are meaningless. This is a clear sign.

“Stage five: The act. This time the individual decides on the day of death. If he knows that he is being watched, he will be selective on the day in which he does this last act of finding peace. The act may take a few days after the decision, a week, a month or many months.”

It was three months from when he informed his mother of his depression that he committed suicide.

“He asked me to listen to what he had to say. He gave me his gratitude in being a good teacher, mom and a listener. He thanked me for trying but it was time for him to go. He said there was no stopping him; it was just a matter of time,” said the 48-year-old teacher.

She said she begged him to hold on, which he did, and although various methods of interventions were pursued, he made his choice to die.

“I have been called names, so were the rest of my family. We have been discussed, abused both spiritually and emotionally but only the ones who knew the journey understood the struggles,” she added.

Her hope is to bring a dimension to the growing problem of depression in Jamaica and especially to teachers.

She added: “My child showed signs of depression and was misread by the highest authority in Jamaica. I hope this will help teachers whose children experience prolonged depression to seek or provide methods of intervention for them. I miss my son very deeply. I still hear his last, ‘Goodbye!’’’

Music and the Classroom

The classroom should be considered as a safe place to learn.  It is the center of information that can be attained form and informally.  It is the wisdom of a good teacher who can regulate what information is relevant but also she needs to have an open mind to other subjects of which she does not teach.

Music is one of those subjects that gets mistreated on a daily basis.  Music should be taught to students who need or desire it, not to be forced because the teachers of the other subjects cannot manage disorderly ones.   Many schools with music programmes have  not been given a breathing space to grow because of the following:
1.  heads of department without performing arts experience developing a programme without solid input of the music specialist.
2. lack of support  from top management for the growth and development of the music programme.
3. poor perception and lack of understanding of parents of interested music students.
4. members of staff who dissuade science based students to pursue music as a subject.





It is unfortunate that the benefits of music are not respected or understood by parents and members of staff thus contributing in the direction  Jamaica is going to the point that many persons are not happy with.  The lyrics and the musical arrangement of many of the "Dance Hall" music are nothing short of advertisements for  an amusement park for "dry sex". Though I have not seen recent research has on the effects a faulty music programme has on the development on the Jamaican musical culture, one must realize that aspects of Jamaican music has spiraled into darkness.

Still, music must be taught because from my experience, it is a beautiful escape from the stress of the world and home and the best tool to release their creative energy.  Also, it is an opportunity for the genesis of beautiful music to be developed and channeled correctly in the right direction.  In the end, music can become receptive to for students to better learn concepts and skills that can enable them to become good musically competent practitioners.   Therefore, teachers of the other subjects should be more selective in "sending" students to do music and spend more time supporting the music programme like any other programme that receives  "harmonic" support from various educational stakeholders.

It is Hard Being a Teacher!

The teaching profession has become very hard to be in these last days.  The expectations are unrealistically high.  Teachers have to be reinventing themselves to fulfill the high expectations of the ministry without additional funding.  To add insult to injury, they mop teachers on the floor of the media to make teachers feel that they are under the microscope with the hope that teachers can become more accountable.  Many of the teachers feel demoralized and disrespected by public figures with some form of accreditation and the teachers union was accused of protecting lazy teachers. Lately when one speaks to teacher, the response is that of demoralization, lack of motivation and depression.

Here are some of the things that have face the Jamaican teachers,
a. frozen salaries for five years only to get a meager increase
b. reduced funding for the department
c. parents who have a perception that teachers are time wasters and not stimulators and facilitators
d. badmouth them in PTA meetings or attack them verbally in public or on the school compound.
e. Condescending attitude from some educational supervisors.

There are more but I think one understands what is happening therefore, it should be no surprise that the Jamaican teachers have decided to take their practice elsewhere. Good teachers began the exodus three years ago and because of the remarkable work they have done to schools abroad, they are being sought after by agencies of schools that have heard and witnessed the Jamaican teachers at work.  Last year, approximately 40 teachers did not return to their jobs the beginning of the new academic year and more are expected to go as the recruiting agencies have traveled to the island to conduct interviews to teachers who are willing to walk away from the battle field of the local classroom to better situations.

 

It seems that the education system in Jamaica is forced to make serious decisions.  The Science, Mathematics and English teachers are the set of trained teachers that are in demand. Educational institutions have become concerned that they will not find teachers returning to their jobs each month.  The schools are left in an atmosphere of uncertainty and so is the education ministry.  The harsh tones that were spoken to teachers have become soft and compassionate.  The economics of the times persuade decisions of workers so that they can attain and provide a quality of life for the their children. 

It is hard being a teacher in the Jamaican system.  The choice has to be made to be loyal or to be wise.  Can a teacher's job be made easier?

 

What is happening to the police force?

The security force is supposed to keep a nation safe.  These people are specially chosen to protect and serve the  nation making it a safe place to work, go to school, and live freely.  But in the last few months our nation went into shock when some of the most publicized arrest of robbers were in fact policemen.

It must be embarrassing to the police constabulary to realize that some of their colleagues and for some coworkers were implicated with the incidents of robberies that happened.  The question that I have for this is why?  Why person who swore to protect our nation decided to rob it?  Is it a case that they are so broke that they are compelled to steal?  Is it that there is too much stress on the job and they experience a meltdown thus turning to part time crime as a coping mechanism?  Whatever it is, it shows that the Jamaica Constabulary Force now has to review their recruitment exercises and conduct sporadic psychological tests to proper evaluate the mental well being of the members of the force.

Our nation is experiencing serious economic stresses but if everyone of us were to crumble and turn to crime, then the nation would be under siege.  Our Ministry of Health needs to deal with the issue of mental health of our overly stressed workers who are grossly underpaid.  This may seem to be a joke to some but there are many persons who are borderline insane and are at breaking point at our work places and homes! More and more individuals have taken drastic and negative actions due to feelings of  desperation and hopelessness and with that thinking, some individuals crack under pressure and do stupid things.

I end by asking the question, are our police thieves?  I say no!  It would be appropriate that the powers that be, instead of focusing on one type of remedy, should focus on the emotional stability and family life stability of members of the security force.  It may not be a cure for all things  but in the end it would become a preventative measure to reduce the incidents of not only police crimes but other crimes in our country.  The Jamaica Constabulary Force should take note!

Are there Lego Beasts in the Classroom?

About two weeks ago,  education minister spoke at the most recently Jamaica Teachers Association Annual General Meeting held in Montego Bay.  I believe that Honourable Ronald Thwaites was truly feeling what our educators have been feeling over the years and with the passion that he felt for the overhauling  of our education system he just simply expressed himself.

It is understood that the term "lego beast" seemed belittling of people's children but the reality for many of our under performing schools is that there are children who are released to the schools that seem to posses "lego beast mentality!"  One must remember the context in which this descriptive statement was used.  The minister was simply stating that our nation's teachers were spending too much time disciplining students before they had a chance to teach and by the time the class is settled, most of the teaching time is reduced, much to the disadvantage of the other students who want to learn. This is the frustration good teachers and students have to deal with on a daily basis and to be honest, it is a huge turn off for many educators who are now dealing with higher levels of over active students in the classrooms.  I guess parents think that teachers can deal with the problems that they cannot fix at home.  Teachers are supposed to teach or guide a child and not become referee and security officers!

Yes, Mr. Thwaites gave a charge to the parents to stop sending their "lego beasts" into the education system.  Was it a poor choice of colourful words?  Was he emotionally charged  due to the fact that maximum learning and contact time are not achieved in the schools?  I leave that for you to answer.  But what I do know is that many of our "Ivy League" schools that have received good parental support have lesser behavioural issues to deal with, thus producing successful grade averages in final examinations.

My take on this is that if parents know that they have troubled children at home, they shohuld find methods of interventions, When this is addressed, they should send them to school and inform the guidance department and administration of the emotional/behavioural issues so that teachers can develop strategies to deal with them.  Do  not "let go" the" troubled children" on the schools, it can become a crazy Zoo in there!