Teachers play the biggest role in disseminating information

Chairperson of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) National Trust Louise Mitchell Joseph says teachers have the biggest role to play in disseminating information about the environment.{{more}}

Mitchell Joseph’s statement was made on Tuesday, November 15, during her opening remarks at a one-day environmental symposium for teachers held at the National Insurance Services conference room.

The symposium, which had as its objective to educate teachers on conservation and restoration of the natural resources in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was organized by the SVG National Trust in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.

“Upon conclusion, teachers are then left with the task of passing on the information in the classrooms among the students.

“You are the ones who spend the most amount of time with our children. A lot is entrusted in you in molding the minds of the children, who are the ones that will be the custodians of the environment going forward.

“The SVG National Trust values the work of the teachers and has high expectations of you to convey the message of environmental preservation,” Mitchell Joseph said.

One of the main focuses of Tuesday’s symposium was an environmental tool kit that Joseph explained was prepared in St. Lucia with funding from the British Embassy.

“Fortunately a lot of our fauna and flora will be similar to St. Lucia, so a lot of the examples in the book will be relevant to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” she explained.

According to Joseph, every school will be provided with a copy of the book that is expected to be used in the classrooms.

Meanwhile, Senior Education Officer Carlton Hall said the Ministry is pleased to partner with the National Trust in its efforts to heighten the awareness of the natural heritage of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

With regard to the environment tool kit, Hall described the book as “good resource material”.

“It is very student friendly. The practicals cater for students from grade K to grade 7…

“It is a fantastic piece of work to be adapted to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” the Education officer said.

He, however, warned, there is a misconception that Vincentians prepare and preserve their patrimony for visitors and “this is indeed not so”.

“I trust that teachers will really spread this message that we protect the patrimony for us and our children to come and we are simply sharing our patrimony with the tourist.”

Some of the topics covered during the seminar included; “Living in harmony with our environment,” facilitated by Father Mark Da Silva, Environmental Activist, and “Our Eco heritage sites”, facilitated by Louise Mitchell-Joseph.

The St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Trust was established in 1969 and is a non-profit body corporate that was created by Statute. It is run by a Board of Trustees and a Secretariat.

The Trust has as its mandate the preservation and protection of the natural, archaeological, architectural and cultural history of St Vincent and the Grenadines.(AA)