Loraine Morgan - Elgin Taylor

There was a time in Jamaica when if a teacher described himself or herself as being a disciplinarian it meant how adept that individual was with the cane or strap in meting out corporal punishment to his or her students. Now, it is a whole new scenario as the regulations do not uphold corporal punishment.

Loraine Morgan, a Grade Three teacher at Angels Primary School in Spanish Town, St Catherine, is one of those modern-day disciplinarians who have to function without the use of the strap.

"Yes, I consider myself a strong disciplinarian, and, although we are told not to use the strap, we still get students to behave themselves. I talk to them and, when that doesn't seem to be working, I simply roll my eyes at them, and that is the cue that I mean business," she told The Star.

train their children

She then went on to state that she has been teaching at the school since its inception in 2002 and that she had noticed the deterioration in the conduct of the students over this period. She blamed this on what she said was the fact that some parents do not see it fit to properly train their children at home in matters of discipline. She added, however, that the school has a policy of contacting the parents whenever there is any problem regarding their children. This method, she argued, has proven to be an effective strategy.

Born in Riversdale in St Catherine, Morgan at one time considered a career in business. This notion however was put to rest when she worked as a pre-trained teacher at Troja All-Age School in St Catherine (1992-1993). She later worked at Cedar Valley All-Age and Infant School, also in the parish, before joining the staff at Angels on September 9, 2002.

Morgan received her teacher certification in the form of a diploma in primary education at St Joseph's Teachers' College in St Andrew. Then, between 2006 and 2008 she successfully studied for a bachelor's degree in school management and leadership at The Mico University College, also in St Andrew.

She is currently the coordinator of the Grade Three classes at her school. Her own class has an enrolment of forty-two students, and, although this number is outside the stipulated teacher/student ratio, she described it as 'normal'.

She said that she motivates her students by implementing a reward system and by letting them be a part of some aspects of planning for the class. She said that her students have become such an integral part of her life that she yearns to be with them every day.

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