CW Principal ‘unaware’ of test paper which labels Vincentians as ‘Dunce’

Principal of the CW Prescod Primary School, Hyacinth Harry has indicated that she is unaware of an item on a test paper which labels Vincentians as “dunce”.{{more}}

“I really don’t know what you are talking about,” Harry said during a phone interview in response to a question posed by SEARCHLIGHT, concerning a question on a grade five room 19 Language Arts test dated December 8, 2009.

The item in question, was found in a section which required students to choose the correct vowels from a list to complete the words.

The test item read: “The Qu— — n is our head of state, thanks to the many Dunce Vincentians.”

The question has raised criticism by Anesia Baptiste, who in a letter to SEARCHLIGHT described the item as “totally unacceptable” and one that should “never even enter into the mind much more show its face on a a test paper”.

SEARCHLIGHT was also able to independently verify that the item had indeed been included on the test.

How did the question make it on to the test?

According to an education official, after a test is prepared by a teacher, that examination should be vetted by the principal or an assessment team designated by the principal.

The team usually consists of senior staff who will indicate to the teacher any discrepancy found in the test.

The official stated that this procedure may not be followed by all schools, thus allowing the question to escape scrutiny.

Principal Harry indicated to SEARCHLIGHT that she would have to gather her teachers and assessment staff together in an effort to get to the bottom of the incident.

This, she said before telling SEARCHLIGHT to “Get the hell out of my face” and hanging up.

Vincentians opposed by a margin of 56.29% to 43.71% a government proposed referendum on constitution reform on November 25 last year, in which one of the key elements was the removal of the Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (JJ)