Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Roxanne Brown-Witter - elgin taylor

st. catherine

It is not often that we hear young teachers articulate a passion for the profession. This is usually associated with their more mature and seasoned colleagues.

This was the case when The Star spoke with Roxanne Brown-Witter, an English and Literature teacher at Spanish Town High School in St. Catherine.

"Teaching is an art and not all persons professing to be teachers can really teach," declared the final-year Mico University College Language student.

She continued: "When you teach, you tap into the children's minds in order to bring out what they have. Students are not sponges to sap up what we give them. Teachers should realise that they are facilitators, that they are there to unleash the potential in their students."

No stranger to hardwork

Brown-Witter, who was born in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, but now lives in Longville Park, Clarendon, is no stranger to hard work.

After graduating from St. Catherine High School in July 1996, she worked part-time, doing several clerical jobs. She also found the time to attend extra classes at Portmore Community College, St. Catherine, in preparation for subjects in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examination. At one point, she did a course in nursing, and worked for a short time at Danwin Medical Centre in St. Andrew, as a physiotherapist's assistant. However, she revealed that the teaching profession was always beckoning and that she finally answered the call in September 2006 when she enrolled in a diploma programme at Mico.

Notwithstanding her jovial and effervescent personality, Brown-Witter is perplexed about some of the challenges facing members of the profession. "I am not happy about the behaviour of the students in our schools," she stated. "I believe this results from a breakdown of family values in the homes, and the lack of proper parenting and proper guidance."

She pointed out that it was the teacher's lot to extend self by showing and giving love, hope and guidance to these students.

LOBBY FOR CHANGE

The young teacher was also nonplussed by the fact that teachers are expected to give excellent performance when they have 50 or more students in their classes.

She believes that the teachers' union, the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), should continue to lobby for change in this area. Other matters also weighed heavily on her mind.

"Tell me," she asked rhetorically, "how come the JTA doesn't see it necessary to bargain for the transfer of benefits when a teacher leaves one school for another?"

She also questioned seniority and said that such matters should have been addressed by the association a long time ago.