I can't help but think that when so much effort and cleverness is spent defending yourself, more so against someone simply pointing out the obvious, that someone is trying too hard and shooting him or herself in the foot in doing so.

With what begins with a clichéd bit of psychological advice on solving personal problems, then turns into a self-congratulatory diatribe involving R. Howard Thompson's porridge-like educational reflections, Espeut would have us all believe that he has targeted exactly what is wrong with Jamaica's educational system: that on the one hand it has too many stupid teachers and on the other too many "elitist" schools! How astute, and might I point out convenient, for the well-rounded critic.

Ineptitude and elitism

In reply, let me point out another easily made observation upon his roster of self-proclaimed "bulls-eyes". If he's been fighting a battle against the wicked prince of educational ineptitude and elitism as he says, for the last 17 years, then obviously no one is keeping score, or worse, they have stopped listening to what he has to say, no doubt for good reason.

I am not suggesting he is trying to steal from the rich, but instead that he should remember that in a sense, his bow, his arrows, his training, indeed even his 17 years in the field, have all been part of a tournament that he himself should admit has failed to produce the desired result and, indeed, failed as badly as the target of his criticisms. Upon that he should reflect, not upon me.

I am, etc.,

ED MCCOY

mhobo48@juno.com

Bokeelia

Florida