Claudette Taylor - Elgin Taylor

The lack of parental support has always been a sore point in the business of primary and secondary education. This matter is all too familiar to Claudette Taylor, a grade one teacher at the St Catherine Primary School in Spanish Town, as outlined in an interview.

"The learning process is a three-way thing: the teacher, the parent, and the child. All three must work hand in hand for the child's learning development," she posited.

She also lambasted the parents for their nonchalant attitude towards the purchasing of textbooks, scrap books, and crayons for their children's education. She noted, too, that when parents are informed about their children's poor behaviour, they simply comment that such attitudes are not displayed in the homes.

Taylor shared that her class of 32 students represents one of the slower streams in the institution. However, the proud St Joseph's Teachers' College graduate (diploma and bachelor's degree in early childhood education) is not daunted and is prepared to do her utmost to bring her students up to the required standard.

This enterprising individual, whose mantra is 'the joy of teaching is the joy of learning', also plays an active role in education, generally. She is the public relations officer for the St Jago District Association of the Jamaica Teachers' Association as well as her school's contact teacher.