The age-old problem of overcrowded classrooms is still a concern for many educators who never fail to voice their opinions whenever the opportunity presents itself.

This was the position taken by Eileen Bell-Durrant, acting vice-principal of Lyssons Primary School in St Thomas, when she spoke with The Star recently.

"Large class size is a challenge as it militates against the performance of the teacher and the students. I believe that no class should have more than 35 students because the teacher cannot adequately meet their individual needs," she said.

She went on to plead for support staff to assist with this problem and suggested the utilisation of youth service workers as one avenue to remedy the situation. Bell-Durrant said that they should be exposed to a minimum training period of two months, complemented by monthly seminars.

She also bemoaned the general lack of resources, including inadequate seating, cramped classroom space, and an unhealthy environment as factors which have a negative effect on education outcomes.

The Shortwood and St Joseph's Teachers' College and United Theological Seminary graduate questioned the wisdom of placing a school in a noisy environment.

High expectations

Bell-Durrant also spoke about the high level of expectations the Ministry of Education, parents, students, and the general society has placed on teachers and administrators of schools. This high level of expectations in the face of dwindling resources places schools under severe pressure. With regard to parents, Bell-Durrant is of the view that they need to take more interest in the education of their children. She made the suggestion that even when the parents do not understand their children's homework, they should pretend that they do.

Bell-Durrant's school has an enrolment of 1,158 students and 42 staff members. The main focus, she revealed, is the provision of a rounded education for all students. This, she stressed, is embodied in a plethora of co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including football, netball, speech, and dance. There are also a number of clubs which are timetabled, including the 4-H, Mathematics, Spanish, Spelling, Music, Drama clubs, and Brownies.

Bell-Durrant spoke strongly of the school's involvement in the annual Jamaica Cultural Development Commission activities, as well as several inter-house and inter-school competitions. The students are reported to have given creditable performances in these competitions.

Bell-Durant officially joined the staff at Lyssons Primary on January 1, 1981, following the completion of her internship year from Shortwood Teachers' College.

She is on a mission to inculcate in the students the importance of striving for excellence in everything that they do.