Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Rev. Anthony Eldermire - Elgin Taylor

St Catherine

In the day-to-day operation of a school, there is one person that students with behavioural problems love to hate. This individual is the dean of discipline.

The portfolio is a fairly recent designation in our high school education system. It is born out of the fact that the school environment has grown more challenging, hostile and complex over the years, and, as such, requires a full-time appointee to oversee the students attitudes and general behaviour.

At Jamaica College (JC), the person entrusted with such an awesome responsibility is the Rev. Anthony Eldermire, a teacher of over 20 years' standing. He outlined to The Star the parameters of his portfolio:

Managerial position

"My job is a managerial position," he stated. "As such I manage the disciplinary activities of the students, including detention. I am also in charge of the school's security, the disciplinary committee and the prefect body."

He also pointed out that because of the nature of his job, he is kept in constant touch with the teachers, the students and their parents.

Prior to joining JC, a traditional all boys high school with an illustrious history, Rev. Eldermire taught at a number of other educational institutions in the island. These include Calabar Primary in Kingston where he got his first teaching job. This was in September of 1982, two months after graduating from Mico Teachers' College with a diploma in primary education.

He also taught at Clarendon College and Mavis Bank Primary, spending three and seven years, respectively, at these institutions. At Mavis Bank he served as a guidance counsellor. He joined the staff at JC in February, 2006 in his present capacity.

Progress at JC

He said that he is happy with recent progress that has been made at JC, noting that the college is on its way back to being an institution of high achievers. He credits a supportive cadre of staff members for this improvement.

Rev. Eldermire, who is attached to the United Church of Jamaica and Grand Cayman, believes that his pastoral training helps him immensely in ministering to the spiritual and emotional needs of the students under his care.

The native of Allman Town in Kingston, who always wanted to become a teacher, is also a strong advocate of lifelong learning, having studied extensively and having known first hand the positive effect of such an exercise. His wish is that his students would come to learn to embrace this idea.

He did further studies at the University of the West Indies between 1986 and 1989 graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology. While still at this university (1988), he obtained a diploma in ministerial studies from the United Theological College (UTC). He also suc-cessfully completed a masters degree in 2002 in educational administration and supervision from Western Carolina University in the United States of America (USA). While at UTC he also lectured briefly in educational psychology.

As an educator, the Rev. Eldermire believes in the "combination of man's spirituality with his social experiences."

His wish is that as Jamaicans, "we will never limit ourselves, we will recognise and be adaptable to the challenges that face us, and strive to achieve our goals and live as a community of decent citizens."