Grammar School praised for 100 years in existence

You can’t want to smell the roses and not occasionally be pricked by its thorns.

Neither, does it seem, from what took place in parliament last Thursday, August 28, that you can celebrate 100 years of glorious existence of the St Vincent Grammar School, without reflecting on the not-so-glorious aspects of the institution.{{more}}

“I do not intend to let colonialism off the hook. Those who want to do that can do that,” said Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, as he extended congratulations to his Alma Mater.

While insisting that he was in no means trying to pour cold water on the celebrations and was in fact praising and thanking the school for its contribution to education, Dr Gonsalves said that it was important that the different sides of the ledger be given – the positives and the negatives.

He noted that the school was “formed in the bosom of colonialism.”

He also expressed the view that while the Grammar School was considered a prestigious institution here, history will show that colonialism did not invest as much into it as in similar institutions in neighbouring Caribbean islands, namely: Harrison College in Barbados and Queen’s Royal College in Trinidad and Tobago.

Addressing the institution as it is today, Dr Gonsalves said that the school is considered an elite school, but for the right reasons.

“If a school is trying to get the brightest boys, nothing is wrong with that,” he said, noting that that is different from an elitism that is based on race, colour, wealth, or any such pre-ordained conditions.

“Nothing is wrong with having a school of excellence.”

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace also addressed the school’s past, agreeing with the sentiments expressed by Dr Gonsalves regarding the effects of colonialism.

He recalled a personal incident where a teacher, now deceased, spoke some bitter words of discouragement to him which he believes was just an expression of the prevailing prejudice of the time.

Eustace, however, made it clear that he also owed a lot of his success to the school, particularly because of the institution’s emphasis on discipline as well as academics.

He called for aspects of the strict discipline of yesteryear to be reintroduced to the School.

Eustace, however, noted that we are living in different times and a different culture and said that the institution must continue to evolve to deal with the new challenges that it will face in these modern times.

He, along with Dr Gonsalves, lamented the death of the Literary and Debating Society at the institution, which was part of its rich heritage.

During his contribution, Opposition Senator St Clair Leacock, a former student and teacher at the Grammar School, made a plea for a “vibrant” alumni association, so that they could assist in the development of the school and the mentoring of the students.

Incidentally, Leacock is married to Margaret Leacock, who is the Chairman of the 100th Anniversary celebrations, and is the first and so far only female Headmaster of the all boys institution, having served in that post from 2000 – 2004. (KJ)