Dear Sir,

It was with profound dismay that I read your weekend article concerning recess time practices at Purvis Primary School. Not only was the article poorly sourced and only minimally researched, it contained inaccuracies and damaging innuendos.

As editor of the island’s only daily newspaper, you have full knowledge of the heated debate around education in Bermuda and the uphill battle all schools, particularly public schools, are facing.

With this knowledge, you perform no public service, nor do you add to reasonable discourse when you highlight matters of concern with little effort to confirm or clarify the accusations levelled at the teachers and principal of Purvis Primary.

Evidence of this is revealed in the anonymous personal attacks on the staff, and specifically the principal, in your own comments section, which you wisely closed within hours.

Even as I considered making my own statement, I wavered knowing full well that I, too, could face attack, but I recalled the words of Bertrand Russell, who said that “the whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts”.

I am a parent of two Purvis Primary students, one of whom was affected by the highlighted practice. My daughter shared with me her concerns some time ago and I in turn shared them with her teachers, as I have always been able and encouraged to do. A brief history of the situation was explained to me and in the interest of safety, the staff instituted what was to be a temporary measure while considering a long-term solution. I have always been confident in the care and professionalism of the staff at Purvis Primary and I am no less confident now.

The daily challenges of children and families in Bermuda today have created challenges in our public schools that we never thought possible even a few short years ago. Teachers and principals are, by and large, doing their best to navigate uncharted waters in service to our children while facing persistent attacks on their motives, their character and their professional ability.

Why are we so willing to roundly criticise the work on the ground before attempting to fully appreciate the many dynamics involved?

To be clear, I am not so naive as to think there are not real issues of concern in public schools, and we must report on, discuss and find solutions for those. While we do so, let’s remember that indeed there are many of the same or similar issues in private schools, but those parents are not so ready to run to the media, social or otherwise, to vent their frustrations.

I have chosen to commit my time, talent and resources to ensuring not only the success of my own children, but the success of my community.

I encourage anyone who is able and serious about changing Bermuda for the better to reach out to the public school nearest them and ask how they can help. We cannot all abandon a system and not expect it to fail.

LATOYA PEARMAN