Interrogating the Culture of Fully Dunce: Revaluing Our Identity

The word ‘dunce’ has always had a fixed address in our local lexicon. The summer holidays are almost over, yet the narrative associated with the ‘dunce’ culture will be carried over into the new academic year, especially since the most recent release of both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) as well as the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examination results. The word “dunce” itself was imported during colonial education systems, used to debase Africans who struggled with imposed European languages and cultural norms. Unfortunately, in post colonial societies, the word ‘dunce’ is still be used to divide, segregate, devalue the citizenry. The glorification of “dunce culture” is not unique to Jamaica but resonates in the broader Caribbean region where education, class and cultural identity intersect. Undoubtedly, Jamaica’s global cultural influence amplifies the culture of dunce. We often underestimate the power and force of our popular culture to our detriment. Gone are the days when teachers were seen as role models for students; there has been a tsunami-like shift in our values and attitudes over the years and this has given rise to a number of sub-cultures many of which are toxic. Many of the social ills of the society are grounded in our painful past of enslavement and colonialization. There are those who will argue that the State has been complicit in the promulgation of some of these social problems. Sadly, as a society we have internalized this trauma and as a result generations after generations have had to deal with social problems of various forms in our post-slavery society. Over the decades we have inherited and we have continued to nurture an elitist education system which primarily caters to the children of the ruling class. Many school administrators are at their wits end as they try various strategies and interventions to counter the pervasive dunce culture that is being celebrated and glorified in some sections of the society. Regardless, all students have a right to their education as stated in the Constitution and various treaties such as The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Regrettably, not all stakeholders in education are reading from the same page and this is problematic. Access to education does not lessen social inequalities. In fact, Conflict Theorists do not believe that public schools reduce social inequality through providing equal opportunity. Rather, these theorists believe that the educational system reinforces and perpetuates social inequalities that arise from differences in class, gender, race, and ethnicity. The realization of one’s education is closely linked to social class. Students of low socio-economic status are generally not afforded the same opportunities as students of a higher socio-economic status. As a result many students see the dunce culture as attractive as it fosters the narrative to get rich quickly by any means. Education or an investment in education is often viewed as a long term dividend paying scheme that is not attractive to many of today’s youth. The glorification of the dunce culture is closely associated with the dancehall culture. In fact a few years ago popular dancehall deejay Valiant did a song called ‘Dunce Cheque’ which became celebrated in the space as well as popularized the notion of being “fully dunce”. Unfortunately, many of our students have already cashed in their dunce cheques. Conversely, can we truly blame them, given that the value attached to academia is very low? The dunce culture has taken a life of its own and no one sector will be able to out this fire driven by youthful exuberance and a lack of self-esteem. What is Culture?. Culture is a set of values, attitudes, and modes of behaviour based on nonviolence and respect. Let us interrogate the Jamaican culture. For many years the Jamaican culture has been subjected to external influences especially from North America. Some will argue that we now have a gun, drugs and rape culture. While there are obviously good aspects of brand Jamaica our culture has been receiving a battering over the years. Additionally, the society’s sub-culture of homophobia also supports this ‘back of the class’ dunce culture which has taken on a stranglehold on the social and moral fiber of the society. Disturbingly, boys who display school smarts are often ridiculed as effeminate by peers, and even adults in areas where academic excellence by males is typically devalued. The fact is too many of our families are dysfunctional. Furthermore, too many families are without a male presence. These factors clearly are recipes for major problems as the guidance and socialization that children require are lacking. In addition, there are many gaps in the education system which is disastrous for us in the society. Too many males see gang affiliation as part of their rite of passage to manhood. Needless to say the gangs are everywhere. The latest statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) show that there are many gangs in Jamaica. Our culture has given way to materialism and we only see success in terms of material acquisitions regardless of how they are obtained. Badge of Manhood. Research indicates that boys in certain education systems are more likely to disengage academically. This disengagement is done mainly because excelling in school is frequently stigmatized as unmasculine. No boy wishes to be seen as unmasculine given the bullying that comes with this negative label. It is safe to say that the “dunce culture” is deeply associated with a masculine strand. Historically, anti-intellectualism has been coded as masculine. The rejection of intellectualism is often framed as a way to assert toughness, dominance and manhood. On the other hand, the badge of manhood which boys aspire to is grounded in an anti-intellectualism paradigm that has grown in popularity over the years. As a result men who are in academia are viewed as feminine or dismissed as weak. This is exactly why we must analyze education through gendered lens given that educational outcomes are gendered.

Stigmatized Education. The continued discrimination and stigmatization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) education is also another example of how we continue to separate bright and not as bright students. In our continuation of pursing an education system that is not inclusive we are in fact giving credence to the dunce culture. Jamaica is not big on meritocracy. We have embraced a culture of who knows you that counts. This again reinforces the dunce culture that has taken over our education system and perhaps the society. There are societal and cultural issues which states that TVET is rooted for the academically challenged students and regrettably this ideology has caused many students to turn their backs on TVET. The International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (UNEVOC) which connects member states of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaims, one of the important distinctions that traditionally occurs in any consideration of work, and education for the world of work, is between work that has a largely intellectual component, and that which is highly practical in nature and requires the individual concerned to work more with their hands. Parents tend to shy away from sending their children to technical schools as the prevailing view is that these schools are not on par with traditional schools. However, if we are honest to ourselves Jamaica has always had a dunce culture. The education system is the perfect microcosm of the dunce culture. Jamaica’s elitist education system which we have inherited from our British colonizers continues to sieve those who are considered to be bright and those who are seen as not so bright. In the days of the Common Entrance Examination those students who were deemed bright attended traditional high schools and the ‘others’ were sent screaming to secondary schools. We have always branded our students and now the students have mastered the game and are now branding themselves. Let us fast forward to the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) that replaced the Common Entrance Examination; the same principle occurred in that the brightest students were creamed off and packaged and sent to the better high schools. In fact parents would do almost anything for their children not to be sent to the “dunce schools”. The public perception is important in this discourse and indeed the public has branded schools both at the primary and secondary levels as bright and dunce. The education system is always transforming so once again the powers that be replaced the GSAT examination with the Primary Exit Profile (PEP). In the dispensation of PEP, a student who did not receive his first or even his/her second choice is not seen as bright as the student who received his first choice of high school. Once again the dunce culture or the psychology of a dunce culture is on display. Music and dance, as cultural expressions, can be fundamentals that help improve the stereotypical representation and appreciation of other groups in the society. The society has done very little to embrace and foster a culture of excellence; instead over the decades we have reinforced the dunce culture and now the fruits are ready for harvesting and as such we should not be surprised how many of our students are gravitating towards this. Yes, we must engage our creatives and social media influencers in order to counter this deviant behaviour. Replacing the Dunce Culture. The so called dunce culture is an opposition to the established order of doing things in society. Many youths see themselves as not having a place in the society. That sense of belonging many of us take for granted is absent from the lived realities of many unattached youths. It is only then that they seek refuge and guidance in the lyrics of popular dancehall culture. Most of us as well thinking Jamaicans find the dunce culture rather abhorrent. However, our current state of dunce culture did not occur overnight; it clearly means that it will take a concerted effort and resources to undo and replace this undesirable mind-set. Once again the education system is being called upon to be the tool of transmission of positive values and attitudes in the society. Among the core courses that should be compulsory in our schools are Civics and History Education, This paradigm shift should begin at Early Childhood level with age appropriate content with teachers who are specialists in the disciplines. Our education system also requires enrichment courses, one such could be Garveyism. Too many students suffer from low self-esteem. The time to get back to basics is now. The various Pathways to Education at the secondary level also lend themselves to the prevailing and worrisome dunce culture. On the other hand, our students are not that dull given that they are aware that students on specific pathways are academically challenged. We have to be mindful as educators not to stigmatize educational programmes. Unsurprisingly, it appears also that there is a gender disparity concerning those students who are turning up in these dunce labeled bags which from all accounts are not cheap. It appears that boys are the standard bearers of this dunce culture and as such our boys need special intervention to change their mind-set. Reconstruct Self-Esteem. Too many of us do not see ourselves as worthy. We have bought into the narrative that the black skin is inferior and many of our unwelcomed behavour results from a lack of, poor, or low self-esteem. Dunce is not the opposite of bright. We all have different learning styles and males tend to be latent academic achievers. As a society we must re-imagine and re-package education in order to counter this dunce culture. Our students must also see that hard and determined work pay big dividends. Our students need positive reinforcement without preaching to them. Sometimes new ideas can be useful in crafting policies; however, the society tend to have a closed circle of so called ‘bright’ people which is also problematic given this negative sub-culture. More effort is also required from stakeholders such as, the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), Past Students Associations and the National Secondary Students’ Council to assist in elevating how students see themselves. Undoubtedly, more effort is needed in narrowing the disparities within the education system concerning our schools both at the primary and secondary levels. The public’s perception often becomes their reality. In the words of William Burroughs, the aim of education is the knowledge, not of facts, but of values. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo ©