Patrick Smith - Contributed

Perhaps more than any other past president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), Patrick R. Smith continues to serve the organisation in a most vigorous and robust capacity.

This is after some 15 years of his presidency, which lasted from 1997-1998. Since demitting office, he has been retained by the JTA, serving as liaison officer, secretary general, and currently as senior secretary in charge of member services.

A believer in research and the use of data to inform plans, programmes and strategies, he brings to the teachers' union a wealth of knowledge and experience, having served for several years as principal lecturer in the history department at Church Teachers' College in Mandeville, Manchester. The long-serving educator, in addition, worked at several high schools throughout the island. He was educated at the University of the West Indies and the University of Calabar in Nigeria.

a negotiator

The affable educator has, as a result of the portfolios he has held throughout the years, in effect, been a custodian for the teachers. He listens to their questions and queries and seeks to effect solutions to the myriad problems which beset them in the performance of their duties on a daily basis. He has to interface frequently with the Ministry of Education on their behalf, and in some respects could be regarded as a negotiator.

Smith's scope of service, however, is not only confined to the teachers but also extends to their charges, the students. In short, if the students are uncomfortable, the teachers will be uncomfortable and vice versa. He has made it his duty to see to the well-being of those working in the teaching/learning situation. This interplay has led him at times to the forefront of the teachers' struggle, and even to disagreements and confrontations with their employer, the Ministry of Education, over several matters.

Some of the issues over which Smith had to take a strong stand in the defence of the teachers and education include, the ability of the school apparatus to withstand the effect of recruitment drives for teachers with a first degree and at least five year's experience by overseas interests. The then Minister of Education, Burchell Whiteman, quipped that the system would be able to cope, but Smith countered in his usual analytical manner: "In Jamaica, our figures show that there are as many trained graduates as there are pre-trained teachers," he is reported to have stated in this 2001 response. "These trained teachers are most important because they have at least 15 years' experience. While we may not end up with a shortage of bodies, we may have a shortage of qualifications."

He also lent his voice to matters like the increased violence in schools and the need for the provision of legal representation for teachers in this hostile environment, the call for the appointment of more education officers, and the suitability of school furniture.

As the teachers' custodian, he is unrepentant in guarding zealously the achievements which have been gained over the years.