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

“Jacinda Ardern will be remembered for guiding her country with strength, compassion, and grace through multiple historic crises, doubtless saving countless lives. She's shown the world a new model of powerful leadership. A true stateswoman."- Hillary Clinton. Global female political representation is decreasing. The international community was stunned recently by the announcement by Miss Jacinda Ardern that she was stepping aside as Prime Minister of New Zealand. Her announcement was shocking not only for her country men and women but also has implications for global female political participation and representation. Jacinda Ardern is also the Member of Parliament for Mount Albert and the Minister of National Security and Intelligence and Child Poverty Reduction. Ms Ardern became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37. Miss Ardern has been a champion for women’s and children rights since she first became pr

Education is a human right. Unfortunately, in many societies students do not live this reality. According to The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO’s) statistical data, an estimated 258 million children are not in school. The situation is worse for marginalized communities, those living in regions with higher inequality, and underdeveloped countries. The bitter reality is that there are countless societies around the world today where education is viewed as unnecessary. Additionally, there are also some societies, specifically Afghanistan where barriers are constructed in order to discourage and even prosecute those children, especially girls who seek an education. The COVID-19 pandemic has displaced thousands of our students from accessing their education. Many students have not returned to school and even among those who have returned the learning loss gap is great. Unfortunately, many students are still without technological gadgets necessary

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The impact and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is global. Many of us outside of the United States of America continue to admire this iconic civil rights freedom fighter and have drawn inspiration from his enduring legacy. Dr. King’s reach transcends race and gender. As a result his legacy is that more indissoluble. We often quote Dr. King in moments when our rights are being trampled on. Sadly, in today’s world those who wish to deny us of our rights are often of our own race and socialization. Regrettably, those individuals oftentimes used their positions to belittle, emasculate and disrespect others. The life and sacrifices of Dr. King are worthwhile contributions to the annals of humanity. The fact that he won the Noble Peace Prize in 1964 speaks volume of the international respect he commands. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a social activist and Baptist minister who played a key role in the

Education is a human right. Oftentimes as educators we tend to ignore the gender specific learning differences in girls and boys. The tendency is for educators to create so called ‘gender neutral’ classrooms which do not take into account the uniqueness of learning of both genders. The advent of multi-grade teaching therefore must be examined as it relates to the impact this mode of teaching has on both genders. Despite the fact that the prospect of teaching children in multiple grades seems daunting, it is surely doable. Multi-grade teaching (MGT) is a teaching pedagogy that all students with different grade levels, ages and abilities are taught simultaneously in the same classroom. Multi-grade schools merge students of different ages and abilities in one classroom, under the direction of one teacher. Interestingly, multi-grade teaching is also the reality of many home-school parents. Home-school families vary in size and often have children across various grades and abilities. With

“Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us if we are not to go on being despised or patronized by condescending sighted people. We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals and communication is the way we can bring this about.”- Louis Braille. My secondary education was done at Meadowbrook High School. While at high school we had a number of students who were visually impaired. The students were from the nearby Salvation Army School for the Blind. Interestingly, the students fit in effortlessly with the wider student population. On any given school day you would see them along with their Braille machines busy doing their assignments. It must be said that these visually impaired students all did exceptionally well in their external examinations in the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. The United Nations (UN) states, that even under norma

Champagne popping; elegantly clad folks singing and dancing their troubles away. Ringing church bells provide hope for both heathens and the faithful. Preoccupied with the things of this world? The things of this world do not interest me. It has never; my passion is elsewhere. The things above are what I desire most. Meditating on life; your life; a year that has gone by so quickly. The question we all ask; where did the time go. What is your answer? What have you done with your time? As summer turns to winter; and the body slows. And as you ponder; and prepare to re-emerge. Tomorrow! Will there be a tomorrow? Will your life be only a memory for loved ones and friends? Who will mourn for you? As you make your bed Will it be of stone; perhaps mahogany, agony, maybe cedar? Wrestling with your inner being. As the music fades in the background Will you find peace in your final hours? How have you treated the most vulnerable and marginalized? Have you been selfish with your time and