Uncalled for comments

January 13, 2010

Dear Sir,

We take great exception to the appalling comments made in today's Royal Gazette by Rolfe Commissiong.

We feel we speak for thousands of Bermudians, black, white, other; people we know as friends and people we know in passing!

Our family motto is similar to everyone else – work hard and honestly treasure our family and plan for the future to ensure our children and grand children have courage to stand up for fairness, trust, honesty and integrity.

The great leaders of today have the qualities of Dr Mandela and President Obama. They cut away all "get even" principles and bring all political groups together!

We conclude this letter by reminding everyone: this is not "a winner takes all" and we should not care "who sleeps with whom". There are other tremdously important issues that face the country – too numerous to stipulate!

TOPPY AND SAUNDRA COWEN

Southampton

Save Gilbert Institute

January 14, 2010

Dear Sir,

The Gilbert Institute was named after my father, Mr. C.G.G. Gilbert, who was Director of Education in Bermuda from 1924 to 1956.

In 1928, my father recommended to the then Board of Education that a school be established for Portuguese children in Paget Parish. It was officially opened on May 26, 1933 by the Governor and named the Gilbert Institute at the request of the staff and pupils.

I have just read that the Gilbert Institute, together with four other primary schools, may be closed. The reasoning behind this seems to be that student performance will be improved.

The Gilbert Institute is recognised as on of the best primary schools in Bemuda and to close it would,I think, be a great mistake.

I attended the school's 75th anniversary on 26th May 2008 and accepted a presentation from the school in my father's name.

It was a very happy occasion and I said a few words at the Assembly.

The staff and students put on a splendid programme, which showed their pride in their school. I congratulated Mrs Eunice Jones, the Principal, her staff and students on it, saying that their school was second to none and that my family's motto "Perseverantia Vincit" – "Perseverance Conquers" – which is the School's motto and appears along with the Gilbert coat of arms on their school sweaters, was in very good hands!

I sincerely hope that further consideration will be given to the advisability of closing the Gilbert Institute. Not to do so would, in my opinion and the opinion of many others, be a great mistake.

JOHN T. GILBERT

Warwick

Confused by plan

January 14, 2010

Dear Sir,

I think this new proposed idea to axe five primary schools and to build another new senior school is nonsensical.

First of all, why axe primary schools, then build a senior school? Why not at least build a large primary school with the entire so-called "state-of-art" technology? Not to mention it's a well documented fact that fewer children to one teacher (especially in the primary stage) respond better to education as they can receive better attention. So why would Government want to shove more children into classrooms and also put greater strain on the already stressed teaching staff?

Also, do we really another senior school? So that means we can have let's say another four-year building plan with a $5 million budget that turns into taking seven years to build and costing $12 million ($3 million of which turns up unaccounted for as usual). Wake up! Let's not relive the Berkeley bewilderment again please.

We are in a tough economic time here. What's to happen to the 28 teachers that face losing a job? We need to also axe government spending on frivolous things. Spend that money on bettering the schools already there and better equipping and training teachers.

Better yet, since we have so much money apparently to spend, send a nice portion of that to Haiti! They need it more than we do … and more than certain government members do.

ROBERT DAVIES

Devonshire

Editor's Note: Education Minister Elvin James has since said that there is no intention to build any more schools.

Don't discredit the trades

January 26, 2010

Dear Sir,

Throughout the past year I've heard a number of politicians, business and community leaders and others talking about the need for a new technical school to supplement the educational system.

While I agree with this 100 percent, it must be noted that a technical school will not be the end all cure to employing our young men who are considered "not academically minded".

What bothers me when I hear individuals speaking on this matter is they make it seem as if anyone can become a productive tradesman, as if the only requirement is two functioning arms and hands. It also appears that many people have the thought that if "Johnny" doesn't do well in school, but he's good with his hands (whatever that means) he can always become a tradesman.

It's that attitude that allows many young men to fail academically because they're not being pushed or tutored to achieve a minimum understanding of the school's course work because the thought is "oh well, he'll just learn a trade". The fact is that to become a good tradesman requires intelligence and hard work in the same way it is required to become a good lawyer or banker. A good tradesman needs to understand maths to be able to read instructions, plans and manuals, they need time management skills, troubleshooting ability and they need to write the occasional report. Just because one might have car grease on his hands or he carries a hammer or a trowel doesn't mean one is inferior.

Not just anyone can become a good quality carpenter, mechanic, plumber or electrician. We're not living in the 1940s any more. The power and diagnostic tools being used, the equipment being installed and the machines and engines being maintained by the tradesmen of today are sophisticated and complex. Just because 16-year-old "Johnny" likes to work on his bike or takes time to build a dog house doesn't mean he's cutout to be an auto mechanic or carpenter. There are other aspects of being a good tradesmen, other than the skills of the particular trade, that need to be realized such as the working environment (not always the nicest), the physical demands, the months of working in the summer heat, not just repairing an engine but doing it in a reasonable time and if you intend to be self employed you need to understand how to run a business. The original technical school turned out a number of quality tradesman but not everyone who attended pursued a career as a tradesman.

Almost all houses in Bermuda have a hammer and a lawn mower but that doesn't we're all quality landscapers and carpenters. So let's endeavour to do everything possible to ensure all kids leave school with at least a minimum understanding of the basic academics. Not everyone is cut out to become a good skilled tradesman.

JAMES JACKSON

Devonshire

Govt. waited too long

January 15, 2010

Dear Sir,

First, I have to admit that I had to look up the definition of "austere"; the Oxford English Dictionary defines it as, "severe or strict in appearance or manner" or "lacking comforts, luxuries, or adornment'. Now that I understand the word I have a very basic question, why weren't these austere cutbacks enforced two years ago when this recession began?

All of the austere cutbacks announced are common sense and were implemented by many companies locally and across the globe two years ago when they realised revenues would be slipping. Why did Government think they would be immune to this, and therefore not amend their expenses accordingly?

Government has now announced the potential closure of five primary schools due to cost cuts. Can they guarantee this will not adversely impact the one part of the education system that is working? What department will suffer next due to a lack of proper expense controls over the last few years? When are people going to be held accountable for this lack of responsibility with the tax payers' money? This kind of irresponsibility is not acceptable in the private sector and Government should be held to the same standard with our money.

KENT SMITH

St. George's