Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Myrtle Smith - Elgin Taylor

It is usually the case that over a protracted period of being in the classroom, a teacher develops a liking for a particular group of students.

Some prefer teaching lower grade students, others the middle grades, and there are those who feel comfortable teaching students in the upper grades.

In the case of Myrtle Smith, a senior teacher at Bartons Primary School in St. Catherine, who has spent 35 years in the classroom, her love and passion is with the six year-olds, the grade one students.

"I love to teach, especially the six year-olds. Their breakthrough gives me the drive to go on," Smith toldThe Star.

She pointed out that most of her time has been spent teaching grade one students. In addition, she has also taught grades two, three and four.

Encouraged

Smith, at one point in her life wanted to become a stenotypist, and had actually enrolled in a commercial institute. But, she stated that she usually assisted students with their homework, and that this caught the attention of a teacher, who later encouraged her to join the profession.

She enrolled as a student at Caenwood Junior College in 1972. She went on to complete a teacher's certificate, through the In-Service Teacher Education Trust (ISTET) programme at Mico Teachers' Training College in 1976. During the 1992-93 school year, she upgraded her certificate to the diploma level. In addition, she participated in several short courses over the years.

A native of Bartons, Smith teaches at the primary school.

Smith revealed that, as part of her philosophy, she normally tells her students that she gives them wings, which they are to use to "soar like an eagle".

However, she views their attitude as the main obstacle impinging on their achievement.

"When I started out first, children were more responsive to learning, and teacher-parent relationships were better," she quipped.

Notwithstanding the challenges, she encourages her colleagues to be uncompromising and to stay the course.

Her advice to them: "Never drop your standard to gain popularity, but continue to hold on to your ideals."