It is with much dismay that I am responding to the article titled 'Wanted: better student teachers'. As an educator for nearly 30 years, I am tired of having the powers that be cast the blame of students' poor performance solely on teachers.

Our minister of education is now blaming the teacher-training colleges for accepting student teachers of substandard educational proficiency. Nowhere in the article to which I refer is there mention of the Ministry of Education's plan to offer a far more lucrative and ultimately attractive payment/ benefit package to prospective teachers so as to lure and eventually keep 'brighter minds' in this noble profession.

Where are the parents?

Furthermore, where are the parents in this bigger picture? How can one be satisfied with having one's child leave primary school without knowing how to spell his or her name? A parent with good intentions and plans for his child would not wait for so long before recognising that the child cannot perform as simple a task as writing his or her name correctly.

I do recognise that some parents are themselves challenged in this respect, but there are always relatives around who are functionally literate.

Moreover, the minister must consider other factors that can have an impact on the quality of teaching and learning in our schools today. To name a few, the social environment, the influence of the media and entertainment, and economic factors are definitely areas of concern that impinge on a child's ability and/or aptitude to achieve academic excellence.

Therefore, while the path the minister is now on in raising the educational bar for our youngsters is highly commendable, I must say that it does take a whole village to raise a child; not just the teachers.

I am, etc.,

ANGELLA MCLAUGHLIN

amclaughlin@jghs.edu.ky

P.O. Box 1108

Grand Cayman