Governor General, Sir Elliott Belgrave (centre), smiles as he is about to receive a boutonniere from St. Matthew’s Primary Head Girl, Kara King (right), while Chief Education Officer, Karen Best (left); Aide-de-Camp, Captain Carlos Lovell; and St. Matthew’s Primary School Principal, Barbara Brome-Bailey, look on.
The St Matthew’s Primary School choir during their performances.
WORDS OF WISDOM
Thu, 06/02/2016 - 12:00am
Parents, teachers urged not to put children’s education in jeopardy
By:
Marsha Gittens
THIS island’s Governor General has cautioned teachers and parents “to think long and hard” before carrying out actions which would be to the detriment of this nation’s students.
Sir Elliott Belgrave did so while delivering his address during his official visit to the St. Matthew’s Primary School yesterday.
Prior to this visit, it was reported in sections of the media of a planned protest yesterday against that school’s principal by parents of pupils attending there. However, during the time His Excellency was there, there were no displays, demonstrations or disturbances.
“The education of our children is too important to be sacrificed or put in jeopardy by anyone. I humbly suggest to the parents and the teachers to think long and hard before ever embarking on any course of action, which would negatively impact upon the process of innocent children, who are striving valiantly to improve themselves in order to secure that for which our forefathers fought. Ask the Right Excellent Bussa, the Right Excellent Sarah Ann Gill, the Right Excellent Errol Walton Barrow, the Right Excellent Sir Grantley Herbert Adams, amongst others, what was it that they fought for? What was it they gave their lives for? A word to the wise should be enough,” he asserted.
His Excellency shared that though “plans were made some time ago” for his official visit to the Hothersal Turning educational institution, it was his intention to cancel them because of the “apparent disquiet” at the school. He however said it was his wife, Lady Belgrave, who advised him to proceed
with his official visit so not to disappoint the children.
Sir Elliott added that he was “pleased” that he listened to his wife and visited the school. He also gave the pupils, teachers and principal high accolades for the entertainment package which they presented. He stated he found it “quite extra-ordinarily beautiful in all the circumstances”.
His Excellency during his remarks also used the occasion to encourage the students of the school to aim high. He also shared with the gathering the reasoning why he conceptualised the programme over a year ago which has allowed him to visit primary schools across Barbados.
“I feel very passionate about these visits. They have, like nothing else before, caught the imagination of all Barbadians. The children in primary schools all around Barbados enjoy meeting me and talking with me and I enjoy meeting them and talking with them. I enjoy seeking to inspire them and their teachers to work hard in the objective of assisting them to uplift themselves,” he revealed.