Educator: Say thanks to teachers before their retirement

One retiring educator wants the Ministry of Education to say its thanks to teachers before their retirement.{{more}}

Herman Cummings, speaking at a ceremony to appreciate retired and retiring teacher of 2009 and 2010 on Wednesday, said such recognition can inspire teachers to work harder.

“To the Ministry of Education, we say thank you very much. It’s not very often that teachers are honoured for their service. I however wish that in the future, recognition be give nto teachers before their retirement since it can motivate them and enhance their effectiveness in the classroom,” Cummings said to applause.

Cummings was responding on behalf of the 56 teachers who either retired in 2009 or will retire this year.

Additionally, 14 headteachers, one principal and Joseph Mapp, Dean of the Division of Technical and Vocational Studies of the Community College are retiring from the teaching service.

Cummings said the teachers will greet retirement with mixed feelings of both sadness and joy.

He said they would be more relaxed being free of the “stress of various demands of students in the classroom”.

He however said the teachers would be sad to be “separated from our dear friends,” the thousand of minds they have moulded and fashioned.

“It is always nice to make friends, but sad to lose them,” Cummings said.

Delivering closing remarks at the ceremony, Advisor to the Ministry of Education Laura Browne said that Ministry and the government hold the teachers “in really high esteem”, saying that is why the ceremony was planned.

Browne, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, said the teachers had chosen an interesting but challenging profession.

“What you did was not for the weak. It was not for the faint, it was really for persons who could accept challenges and do things in a creative and interesting ways for children and to enjoy it,” Browne said. (KXC)