ISSA's academic bar too high

[Karl]

Clearly, there is a fundamental difference of opinion.

For me, school is first about education. That is what, more than anything, will prepare our students for the world. It's 100 times easier to become a medical doctor than it is to become a professional athlete.

I may say more on this later.

Agreed FULL 100 on what you said!
That has always been my point.

However, in the context of your earlier statements in support of there being a division on instruction in sporting discipline being 'second class' and not considered as of equal importance to instructions in other disciplines...I believe you did not mean what you said.

You said that

school is first about education

!!!

I thinking you misspoke as those earlier statements suggested that learning as provided by absorption of 'life-necessary' taught facts and given tools through instructions delivered by the sports teachers is not 'education'.

[Mosiah]

So, Karl, if a school finds itself with 10 million dollars, should it go ahead and purchase the badly needed T&F equipment or build that extension to the chemistry lab?

[Islandman]

Absolutely,

My thing is, if you really want to turn your school into a sports academy, then at least make an effort to train some physical therapists, sports administrators, managers/agents, etc.

Producing 2 elite athletes and 100 illiterates per graduating class and feeling good about it is insanity!

[Assasin]

The reality of the thing is, school is the only place for some of these athletes can showcase their talent and since we are not providing the level of education to them, what do we do with the talent.

The fact is many of these athletes who get 3 and 4 subjects can also end up been lawyers and doctors too. It is not a total lost.

If we had decent parish sports where these kids could be identified and developed, I would have no problem with your stance. The fact is there are many children in many of these schools who are not doing any sports and are getting worst grades. What do we do about that?

[MdmeX]

Agree with you Mosiah! Some educators can roun up them mouth when it pertains to other peoples children. When it is their children, them want the 100%.

If we start bawling about the bar being too high, what the hell we think is going to happen to our youths.

[Karl]

So, Karl, if a school finds itself with 10 million dollars, should it go ahead and purchase the badly needed T&F equipment or build that extension to the chemistry lab?

You know your question points directly to why our approach to work diverged.

1. You have had my answer to such questions repeatedly - both privately and posted on this site through the years.

2. The question suggests there is a management problem at our schools.
- Many areas needing financial input and there has been no clear directive and indeed direction on how to find solutions and implement the fixes.

3. Let me ask - Did you know that one extremely important job of the school administrator is to institute improvements on multiple fronts?

4. If a school (usually a public business institution with defined goals) or private sector business needs financial input...sure in each case there must be prioritization but the aim must be all goals met.

5. Once more the approach must always be by 'the administrators' to look inward for solutions and then to implement.

Bout find self with 10,000,000 dollars?

If both of the tasks you mentioned need to be accomplished and even if there is in addition more to be done - The administrators do not have your luxury of thinking one or the other...an ignoring of a pressing issue or problem. The administrators must find solutions and implement fixes. That is their job...the nature of the job!!!

One of the problems we have had and Jamaica has is too many of our administrators of schools are insecure and feel the need to micro-manage...must actually carry out every task. There is the feeling of "I am not in charge if I do not 'wipe every arse' or am not the one to first propose any significant project or actually perform any significant project/task". A damn fool way of doing business which slows growth...and eventually will destroy positive dynamic at/in the workplace. It makes for opportunities lost and lives not fulfilled.

The real leader does what he has to do to maximize on efforts from as many quarters as necessary to ensure as far as it is humanly possible all tasks are accomplished and all goals met...surmount all obstacles and ensure implementation of the needed.

Let me 'hit you over the head' with some of the facts:
a) The good administrator -
i) recognizes existing problems when he first walks in the door;

ii) puts in measures that assist in identifying future needs - forward planning;

b) immediately following on "a" recognition of human and physical resources at his disposal, deploy same to meet the needs of the institution;

c) "a" and "b" leads to division of labour...within context of measuring results and upgrading - continuous education (take this in its widest context e.g. formal training and re-training and informal - like learning from peers and environs)...and replacing needed 'parts' - physical and human;

In short it is never about the Chemistry Lab improvements or the T&F equipment. It is, "Do it!" Provide both and the context is, NOW!!!

I am impatient with my people who refuse to, look in the mirror!
I hate the attitude of - It is not my fault...it is John's or Sue's!!!

Face facts, our schools are failing because our administrators are crap.
...and any other institution we have that is not producing as it should has crappy administrators?

Look inward! Look at those in charge! Cowards! ...insecure weaklings!!! ...falling down on the job. ...greatest of liars to self!!!

[Assasin]

Why does it have to be Chemistry lab????

I ask because we don't have to go so far. Many schools can't even send their talent athlete to Champs or have a soccer team regardless of how many exams they have. The fact is we are woefully lacking with a lot of stuff in our schools but sports is also needed. No doubt the Chemistry lab is needed but a good musical engineering program, computer lab and yes a decent field for kids to play on.Where else do our talented athletes play???? or do we rather them not going to school at all if they are not at the top of their class?

[Karl]

Absolutely,

My thing is, if you really want to turn your school into a sports academy, then at least make an effort to train some physical therapists, sports administrators, managers/agents, etc.

On the surface, fine. ..but you have, within the context of our results/our Jamaica results, the unstated: the school must be either a sports academy or science laboratory or IT laboratory...or whatever.

There is your unstated assumption that a school can only be 'good at one thing'. If that is your premise, that is false.

True, playing with the real situation, our schools are better at - Which subject area/discipline should I choose? Fact is we are lousy at every last single area/discipline. So let the reader fill in... -- .... than at any particular sport discipline but it is a false choice to suggest the school must either choose a sport discipline or an academic discipline.

Just think on it? The ideal is, adequate staffing - i.e. brilliant staffing, physical facilities, etc. - to produce exemplary results across the board.

Producing 2 elite athletes and 100 illiterates per graduating class and feeling good about it is insanity!

This underlines the unstated assumption referenced previously even though your words are 'bang on'. Such school result you use points to, not a sports v an academic discipline clash but failure of administrative leadership=the administrators leadership TEAM. It is poor teaching that would have the school producing illiterates...forget the incredible but in our JA situation not a stretch to use such figures...100 illiterates.

[Mosiah]

Sass...Sass, with all due respect...can't you see I just pulled Chemistry lab out of me @#$$! It could be anything!

Zas Crise man!!

[Assasin]

All I am saying you can't totally take sports out of that mix either. The school admin have to have some sense. At my old primary school they put in a computer lab and an all purpose sports court. The community at large uses that complex as well as the kids in the day and evening. Keep them of the streets. YOU SEE MI...

[Mosiah]

At my old primary school they put in a computer lab and an all purpose sports court.

Sass, nobody believes in the role of sports in school more than me. But I know where it sits in my priority list!

But lets go back to your dear old primary school. If the money at your disposal can only put in one of them, which would it be? Computer lab or all-purpose sports court?

Try to give me a one sentence answer and not a Karlesque response!

[Islandman]

I don't see it as a choice between sports and academics either.

The primary goal is to create a graduate with marketable life skills. Obviously a basic education is a requirement and should be priority #1, but above and beyond that, it is very difficult for a school to be good at many disciplines, ie sciences, sports, technical/vocational, arts/entertainment. To your point , many/most of them today are not good at ANY!

I like the approach I see in some US schools where there is a specialty, primarily an academic speciality of course but we could extend it to mean more than that . ie We ensure that our students obtain the basic educational skills required for a modern economy, AND we also have the best science program/engineering program/tourism program/arts program/music program/football program/track and field program, whatever.

Best meaning, not only do we produce some elite performers in those fields, but also develop skills in the supporting roles where many other opportunities exist. Your technicians, your sports medicine professionals, your music producers/band members, etc.

What we have in most high school sports programs is not that. They are not providing even the basic education.

[Assasin]

In a case of one or the other he most likely would have chosen the science lab but he was smart enough not to neglect sports and assist in every way he could, hiring the best staff he could and made sure there was playing field available for the kids. He also encouraged kids to play sports.

I know you want a one liner but a just the reality. Our kids needs help and many who are getting 3 subjects can do better with some assistance and it doesn't condemn them to a worthless life. Some come out and do better than the 6 and 7 subject guys.

[Assasin]

It also funny you may talk about this because While our high school principal was there, Titchfield was top in the Island in Chemistry O Level passes, also was in Headley cup finals a lot, was the top rural Table Tennis team and only KC was better islandwide, We made top 4 in Dcup most years, Eastern Athletics champs and was one of the best rural netball teams.

Now we have none of those credits, not in academics and not in sports. I hope you get the drift.

[Mosiah]

Ok. Science lab it is. Thanks for the answer.