Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Paulette Rennalls-Dawson - Elgin Taylor

It is not unusual to hear persons who have retired from their jobs express the thought that if it were possible, they would do it all over again. This, however, was not the response given by Paulette Rennalls-Dawson when she was quizzed by The Star.

"No, no, not with these types of students. Back in those days, no way you reprimand a student and the next day the parent come to the school to curse you off. Nowadays, they will even come with their boyfriends or other family members to beat you up. It (the job) was more rewarding, but the indisciplined behaviour sort of make you lose everything," she argued.

Rennalls-Dawson also revealed that she took early retirement at age 55, and that it was partly due to the unruly behaviour of students.

"Nowadays, students need to show more interest in their work. We have to be begging them to do it. They are too distracted for example, by Facebook, games, and chat rooms," she noted.

She puts forward the suggestion that it has become necessary for parents to learn computer technology in order to keep abreast of popular trends and guide their children.

She stated that her students generally go on to perform well in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate exams, and that she had students who returned to work at the institution, and others who have done well in other areas.

Rennalls-Dawson was born in Linstead in St. Catherine, and attended St Mary's College, also in the parish. She was encouraged by a friend to become a member of the teaching profession, and she later had training through VTDI to aid in her development. She taught for four months at St Faith's Primary School in St Catherine before landing the job at Penwood Secondary (now high school) in St Andrew in 1975.