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'Textbooks a must for growth'

Published:Friday | August 20, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Lassel Jones (foreground) looks over a metalwork textbook as Tasea Taylor, a back-to-school intern at Sangster's Book Stores in The Springs plaza, St Andrew, assists him with his book list. There has been a sharp increase in the cost of metalwork textbooks, according to findings announced by the Consumer Affairs Commission during a press conference yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
A family shops for back-to-school supplies with assistance from a store clerk at Sangster's Book Stores, The Springs plaza, St Andrew. From left are Rebecca, Matthew, Joshua and their parents Siska Hugh and Peter Hugh. - Gladstone Taylor/Photographer
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Karen Sudu, Gleaner Writer

One St Catherine school principal is hoping that more parents will be able to provide textbooks for their children in the upcoming academic year.

Fay Sewell-Hall, of Guanaboa Vale All-Age School, told The Gleaner that a lack of printed material has been impacting negatively on the performance of many students attending her institution.

"It hinders progress in that it takes too long a time for the teacher to be writing on the chalkboard. Coupled with that, the students need to see the printed material because it seems as if the same word on the chalkboard is not the one in print and, therefore, we want to expose them to the printed material," she explained.

While stating that the harsh economic conditions might have some bearing on many parents' ability to purchase the textbooks, she said they must be cognisant of the importance of these resources in the learning process.

"Textbooks also help them to work faster and that is the main thing, and to read for themselves and to interpret what is there," she said. "We really want them to get into the books and, therefore, it also helps that each child with the book can go at his or her individual pace and that is what we really want."

Guided by the philosophy of total development of the child, the students get the opportunity to participate in several activities, including Jamaica Cultural Development Commission festival competitions and educational tours.

Though small, the school has a vibrant tourism project, a mini museum and a computer lab.

"Our students are very exposed to technology because we have a number of remedial students, students that you have to use a hands-on approach with and, therefore, we are known as 'the Clinic'."

Exciting year

Sewell-Hall, the head teacher for 16 years at the institution National Hero Norman Manley attended, foresees an exciting school year and looks forward to continuing some of the projects which were initiated last year.

"Well, we have an attendance project and we really want to get into the other phase of it to get into the psyche of the parents as to why they will not send the children out, and we are hoping that we'll help to convince them this year that children must come to school every single day."

Students travel from communities such as Kitson Town, Dover, Content, Cherry and Watermount to attend the institution, which had 86 students on the register at the end of the last school year.