Features

Touching souls through teaching

By: Kavelle Anglin-Christie, Staff Reporter

Lawrence Henry - Contributed

AT LEAST ONE man can say that throughout his 27 years of teaching, he has managed to grasp in full what it means to be a teacher, and the great expectations placed on him by others.

"The expectations of a teacher is very high. Our morals and behaviour have to be above board, because the entire community is looking on to you as a role model, and you have to rise to the challenge," said Lawrence Henry.

Henry, who resides in Manchester said, "What really motivates me as a teacher, is when I visit most of the business places in Mandeville and there is a soul that I have touched - whether it is a doctor, or a lawyer."

Henry says he became interested in teaching after joining the youth service programme in the late 70's. "I became motivated to teach after joining the youth service programme, and I met a lady Marjorie Morgan - she was the one who motivated me to do it. Before that, though, my true love was music and singing."

He says after graduating from Sam Sharpe Teachers' College, in Montego Bay, he taught at the Maldon High School in St. James. He says in 1979, he went to teach at the Somerset All Age School, in Manchester, where he remains today. This is his 10th year in the post of principal.

Henry, however, was not content with ending his studies there. He also attended the Northern Caribbean University, (NCU), as well as the University of the West Indies, (UWI), Mona.

The children he teaches, that inspires him. "Being with the children keeps me motivated, and it keeps me child-like," he said, laughing.

When asked what he thought his students would say about him, he said, "Well, I think they would say that Mr. Smith is miserable, and jovial at times. They know that, and they have said that to me already."

Henry frankly said that if someone wants to teach, he should do it for the love of it, and not the money. "If you plan to be rich, don't choose teaching. It is about helping. I am not saying that you won't get money from it, but if you are coming into it to be rich, and that is your motivation then it is pointless. The point of being a teacher is to take someone from the dungleheap, and see them succeed."

He said to be a teacher, "You must be firstly, patient. Then you need to be energetic, tolerant and understanding. A teacher must have those and others, because you are dealing with children."