Marsha Camille Gordon - Elgin Taylor

The perennial problem of overcrowding in schools has proven to be a nightmare for teachers over the years. Many of them have been able to rise above this challenge, while others have buckled under it.

Marsha Camille Gordon, a grade five teacher at Spanish Town Primary School in St Catherine, is one of those who has been coping with this situation. "It is a real challenge because first of all, you cannot give the students the adequate attention that they need. As a teacher you have to be juggling time, knowing when to do what," she stated.

She continued by pointing out to The Star that students generally performed at varying levels and as such there is need for a number of them to be given individual attention, which is nigh impossible in an overcrowded classroom. She also bemoaned the fact that the stipulation by the Ministry of Education, setting the teacher-pupil ratio at 1:35, had little or no basis in practice.

Gordon, who has been teaching at the institution for 10 years, is a diploma graduate (2001)of Shortwood Teachers' College in St Andrew, and a bachelor's degree graduate (2006) of GC Foster College of Physical Education in Spanish Town, St Catherine. She revealed that her class of 45 students is regarded as being among the most academically equipped in the school, and that she intends to maintain this standard. She also disclosed that the students themselves had been called upon to play their part in lessening the effects of the overcrowded classroom.

peer tutoring

"I assigned the students responsibilities such as prefects, group leaders, and class monitors. I have, on occasions, tried peer tutoring, and I found that this helps," she noted. The Spanish Town-born educator stated on several occasions during the interview that it was her belief that being responsible was an important part of their development.

She spoke freely of her love for the students, and the teaching profession in general. She said that she was very involved in the social aspects of school life. These include being house leader, music and quiz coach, as well as being on several committees like sports, graduation, fairs, and concerts.

Gordon also registered her disappointment with the Ministry of Education saying that adequate resources were not being made available to the schools. She also stated that there was need for more reading specialists to address the problem of illiteracy at the primary level. When quizzsed about her future outlook in the profession, she had this to say:

"I attended Spanish Town Primary School (as a child) and it would be good to be principal of the institution. Yes, I would like to further my studies and become principal of that school ... someday."