The Intersection of Gender, Culture and Education: Jamaica: The Next 50 Years!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”. - Jeremiah 29:11 There are many traditions associated with the end of a year. One of the most important traditions in Christendom is that of attending Watch Night Service. Have you ever thought about the history behind Watch Night Service? According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Watch Night is also called Freedom Eve’s Service and is held on New Year’s Eve. The same source states, the tradition of Watch Night may be traced to the early 18th century in Moravian churches, when churchgoers began marking the occasion with a vigil to reflect upon the year past and to contemplate the one to come. John Wesley adopted the practice for his Methodist followers, who held similar vigils monthly with the full moon. It was given new significance among African Americans on December 31, 1862, when, according to tradition, slaves in the Confederate states gathered

“I would rather die on yonder gallows than live in slavery."- Sam Sharpe. One hundred and eighty eight years after his death Sam Sharpe Day is a reality. December 27 has been proclaimed Sam Sharpe Day by the Governor General, Sir Patrick Allen. It has certainly taken successive Jamaican governments long enough to realize and commemorate the significant role Sam Sharpe played in organizing the Christmas Rebellion of 1831 which was a catalyst for the abolition of slavery. The Sam Sharpe Rebellion or the Christmas Rebellion ushered in calls for Emancipation, both in Jamaica and in England where abolitionists worked on legislation to free the enslaved Africans. So great was Sharpe’s contribution to the abolition of slavery that it warrants more than a Sam Sharpe Day, indeed a national holiday would be most appropriate. Sharpe’s contribution to modern day Jamaica is incalculable. His worth has been underrepresented for years. To add insult to injury, the teaching of history educatio

“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”- St. Matthew 1:23. Christmas is my favourite time of the year. I am sure for many of you Christmas is also your favourite time of the year. There are numerous reasons why Christmas stands out above any other time of the year. The main reason rests with the birth of Jesus Christ. Let me quickly add that I do not entertain those who say Jesus was not born on December 25; the fact is He was born and his birth is celebrated. There tends to be a spirit of generosity during Christmas. Most folks go out of their way to be cordial and pleasant. Oh, I wish this spirit of Christmas could last all year. Living in a tropical country like Jamaica, Christmas brings cooler temperatures; a welcome relief from the all year humidity and heat which characterizes where we are located on the map. We oftentimes experience the Christmas breeze during and aroun

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”- Marcus Garvey. Jamaica is a predominantly black society. More than ninety percent of the nearly 3 million inhabitants of the island have DNA associations to the motherland, Africa. Unfortunately, most Jamaicans do not know their historical context. A significant gap is in our education policy which relegates the teaching of history as optional. This omission of history from among the core subjects directly impacts how we see ourselves as a people. The ongoing bleaching of the skin is also related to the lack of knowledge of our rich historical past. The fact that history is optional in our schools speaks volumes about our cultural identity or lack thereof. Surprisingly, the movers and shakers with responsibility for curriculum development and testing; with a few exceptions, have done very little to right this colossal injustice. It can be argued that this is a deliberate and calcu

“We can all fight against loneliness by engaging in random acts of kindness.”- Gail Honeyman. Oftentimes we confuse being alone and loneliness. It is not uncommon for an individual with family and friends around to complain about loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling, while aloneness is a state of being. Psychology Today defines loneliness as, the state of distress or discomfort that results when one perceives a gap between one’s desires for social interaction and actual experiences of it. The lack of genuineness in relationships can results in feelings of loneliness. Emerging research from McGill University in Toronto has concluded that lonely people were more likely to have increased activity in areas of the brain tied to reminiscing, thinking about others and future planning, according to a study published recently in the journal Nature Communications. This emerging development is both plausible and logical since many individuals who suffer from loneliness have had to use their im

“Our bodies are not meant to deal with fake food.”- Tim Ryan. This year has been quite unusual. Who would have thought that we would be wearing face shields or masks in 2020; had someone told me last year that I would be wearing a face covering in 2020, I would have laughed at them. The year has been quite sobering as well due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The strangeness of the year has impacted all spheres of our lives. We were taught very early that animals provide the meat we consume. However, let us fast-forward to 2020. Where do we get meat? Sir, we get meat from a laboratory. Correct! The answer is not by any means misinformation. In many homes a slice of roasted beef, pork, chicken, mutton, maybe lamb will be served for Christmas dinner. Perhaps, we will go to our favourite meat shop or supermarket and order our favourite cut of meat. How can you be sure what will be on your plate in the future; given the rapid changing world in which we live? In addition to the changes we n

“And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name.”- Revelation 13:16-17. Are these the end times? Whether we are Christians or not we have heard about the Mark of the Beast. For many of us the Book of Revelation drives fear into our hearts as that chapter addresses issues regarding the end of the world. Many theologians, as well as lay persons have had a fascination with the end of the times narrative since time immemorial. In early times there was much talk in certain quarters that the Mark of the Beast was a man. Many wagers have been made regarding who is this Mark of the Beast. Additionally, countless movies, books and other artistic art forms have tried to depict what the “Beast” will look like. It was extremely pop

“A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality”. - John F. Kennedy. Not much emphasis and planning is given to men in most societies regarding safe spaces for men where men can go and discuss their problems. There is the tendency to narrowly define and interrogate gender solely as it relates to women’s issues. In some countries there are no support systems in place to address and intervene where necessary, concerning the needs and concerns of boys and men. This lack of a holistic approach to gender affairs is problematic. The lingering effect of this policy undoubtedly will have, and in fact does have implications for women as well. In most societies the over-arching ideology of patriarchy is alive and well. It can be argued that those who make policies place all men in the same category, that of male privilege. This one size fits all approach to gender relations is skewed.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are 1.2 million deaths and 50 million injuries yearly from road traffic incidents. The physical, psychological, emotional and economic devastation resulting from road traffic injuries is immeasurable. It appears that with each passing year road users become more reckless and daring. Driving on our roads has become a life and death experience. Some of our drivers appear both suicidal and homicidal. There are those drivers who seek attention at all cost; such users of the roads are into stunts and daredevil experiences to the detriment of other road users. We need not mention those who drive under the influence of alcohol or other mind altering drugs. Jamaica and the global community have paid and continue to pay a high price for the uncaring and insensitive behaviour of some of our motorists. No one needs to single out any particular set of motorists; however, we all know those who are at the top of the acrobatic and dangerous l

When was the last time you checked your blood glucose levels? Most of us know at least one person living with diabetes. People living with diabetes face a number of challenges, such as the cost of medication and the lack of information regarding diabetes. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people in the world are living with diabetes. World Diabetes Day (WDD) became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of the United Nations Resolution 61/225. This important day is observed on the 14 November, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922. World Diabetes Day is the world’s largest diabetes awareness campaign reaching a global audience of over 1 billion people in more than 160 countries. In 2019 there were over 463 million adults living with diabetes. The research indicates that by 2030 some 578 million adults will have diabetes. In many instances individuals are not aware they have diabetes. Untreated or uncontrolled

“Quality is not an act, it is a habit.”- Aristotle. The search for quality is oftentimes elusive. The Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) recently held their Online Media Sensitization Session for the 11th European Development Fund. CROSQ is the regional inter-governmental organization established in February 2002 to facilitate the development of regional standards, promote the harmonization of metrology systems and support the sustainable production and trade of goods and services in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The session is part of CROSQ's trust to bring awareness to the Caribbean region regarding the role of the European Union through the European Development Fund in building regional quality infrastructure, as well as boosting the Caribbean region technical capacity for trade. The European Development Fund was created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome and launched in 1959. The European Development Fund is the European Union’s mai

“The devil often finds work for them who find none for themselves.”- Benjamin Whichcote. Laziness is a disease. It cuts across gender, educational levels, race, social class and political affiliation. Many folks are convinced that the pathogenicity of laziness can be acquired through how one is socialized. Those who are infected by this social disease soon become slaves to this condition. Laziness is a conditioning of the mind. Once our brains receive a particular message whether good or bad that message is stored forever in the brain’s database. Laziness is a process which occurs over time. Sadly, if this condition is not nipped in the bud it consumes the individual eventually. In any relationship there is a power issue, the same can be said about laziness being the master and those who allow themselves to be mastered are slaves to this disease. Can you imagine anyone in good health, having all their marbles intact yet refusing to work or unable to keep a job? Can you imagine a ma

“Emotional intelligence begins to develop in the earliest years. All the small exchanges children have with their parents, teachers and with each other carry emotional messages.”- Daniel Golemen A lot has been said about the impact of the novel coronavirus regarding the disruption of students’ education. Governments all over continue to struggle with whether or not to resume face-face school as opposed to online teaching and learning. We have all heard the voice notes which have gone viral with the voices of children expressing frustration, anger, anxiety and fear regarding issues surrounding virtual teaching and learning but also the impact the closure of schools have had on their socio-emotional development. Sadly, we have had the suicide of two pre-teen girls in recent times. To this end it is safe to say that many students are just not coping emotionally during this pandemic. Another negative consequence of COVID-19 is the widening gap of out of school enrichment programmes. The