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Dr Mark Nicely

Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

The Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) is celebrating 50 years of existence. The association, which operates as a teachers' union, was birthed from the amalgamation of five entities - the Jamaica Union of Teachers, Association of Headmasters and Headmistresses, Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions, Association of Assistant Masters and Mistresses and the Association of Teacher Training Staffs.

As noted by Patrick Smith, in an article published as a supplement in The Sunday Gleaner of August 17, 2014, the agitation for the voice of the teacher to be heard to counter-balance that of the establishment, and the need for representation started as far back as 1892.

Battle

It therefore follows that the associations which preceded the JTA have found it necessary to be at odds with positions put forward by the government or governing bodies. So, recent positions taken by the JTA in opposition to some programmes and policies of a Jamaica Labour Party government or a People's National Party government is nothing new. It is simple that the JTA, like any other trade union, is standing up for the teachers that it represent, and by extension, the students under their care.

The job to educate the nation's children is a dynamic one, which oftentimes comes in conflict with what is taught in another socialising entity called the home. The students also come into conflict with other individuals and entities in the society which can have a negative impact on them. This is not lost on out-going president Dr Mark Nicely, and in a piece in the aforementioned publication, he puts it this way:

"As we contemplate and chart the way forward, it is imperative that we remain cognisant of the fact that there are many entities and individuals actively participating in the education and socialisation of our children and young people. And, the question therefore is, who or what is winning the battle to influence the next generation? The reality is that it is a real battle to educate our children in today's world."

This is the clear and present danger in our education system - a fight to correctly educate and socialise our young people. This is what faces the teachers' union, the teachers, students and other stakeholders involved in the business of education.

The JTA as a teachers' union has grown to be a very powerful union representing approximately 25,000 teachers in the education system. The organisation led by its presidents and supported by the teachers, has achieved a lot for education over the years. It is also allied to a number of international organisations,

Future

Kudos to the powerful JTA for having reached this enviable milestone of 50 years of operation, and still going strong. Much has been achieved on behalf of the teachers and students and much more need to be done in the ensuing years. The teachers of today are a bit apprehensive about the future, especially seeing that at this time they are painstakingly going through a five-year wage freeze.

Here again I will take another quote from the out-going president (now immediate past present) Dr Nicely. This time he is in poetic mode:

"The future of the association, under God, is a bright one. It is one in which we will solidify our gains, and strive to attain greater heights and deeper depths. It is a future that will be characterised by efforts, not only to expand the benefits to our members, but also to advance the highest professional standards and practices in the teaching profession, recognising that a country that does not respect its teachers, cannot pretend to love its children."

Questions, comments, observations? You can mail me at elgin1225@yahoo.co.uk.