GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Margaret Codner teaching her students in her Grade 1 class at the Mount Moriah Primary School in St. Ann - george henry

spaldings clarendon:

After 44 years in the classroom, Margaret Codner is convinced she was called to teach.

Codner started her career at the Cascade All-Age School in St. Ann and is now teaching at the Mount Moriah Primary School in that parish where she has been for more than 20 years. She has rendered her service at other schools and has taught at the Garlogie All Age in Clarendon, Sacred Heart Academy in Christiana, Alexandria Primary in St. Ann, as well as the Charlton Infant School in the parish.

She loves teaching to the point that if she could live her live over again she would have another shot at teaching. But, this time there would be one condition. She told THE STAR in an interview at her school recently that she would like the pupil-teacher ratio to be changed from the high 40's as it is in her class currently, to between 20 and 25.

Loves children

Mrs. Codner, who said she loves teaching with a passion, added that she loves children and that is the reason she has spent more than four decades with them.

"I love the profession, I love children and I love to see when they achieve, which is my main goal. I like to know that whenever I do something even if the remuneration I receive is not sufficient, I still love teaching. It's a joy and children give me pleasure," stated the veteran teacher.

In fact, Codner said she has never dreamt of any other profession outside of teaching. She said she disliked nursing, which had high regards at the time she attended the Inverness Elementary School in St. Ann.

challenging

Codner said although her work is challenging she enjoys it, because it is her lifeblood. She said would like the discipline as it currently exists among students in Jamaica in general to change.

She added that students are not like in former years when she started to work in the classroom, and noted that the students today are not as alert as her former students going back 20 to 30 years ago.

The classroom teacher believes that technology has affected some students' ability to learn. She said although some used it to their advantage, others used it for the wrong reasons.

Codner is pleased that the students whom she has helped over the years to achieve an education, and who have been making their contribution to society have returned to say thanks for what she has done for them. gifts

"To be honest, they come all the time. They come back and they say nice things and even give me nice gifts out of gratitude for what I have done for them.

They have always been saying, 'If it was not for you Miss, we would not be what we are'," said a smiling Mrs. Codner who is a reading specialist.

Margaret is married to Wessel Codner and has two children, Allayne and Alwin. She said none of her children have thought of becoming teachers. She said she would not encourage them to do teaching because it takes up a lot of family time and they would not be able to survive off the meagre salary as it exists.

After retirement within another five years, Mrs. Codner says she will still help students, especially those who have difficulty reading.