Joyce Thompson - ian allen photos

Joyce Thompson is a stern teacher, yet love and admiration flow naturally for her students.

Thompson, who has been a teacher for 24 years, decided in 1993 that she had a mission to take on and it was at Edwin Allen High School, Clarendon, teaching mathematics.

When the Star visited the institution, Thompson enthusiastically shared her passion: "I love Mathematics and I really wanted to teach this subject. I used to attend this school.

"Since my time, there has been a lot of changes. The students are more indisciplined and the teaching itself is challenging as you have to take on personal matters as well."

Happy despite challenges

Thompson is happy with the profession she chose as she is getting the satisfaction to make her life complete.

"I chose this profession, despite the challenges, because someone has got to be in this position. young minds have to be moulded, someone has to teach the children right from wrong.

"When you enter a classroom with new students, their brains are like blank slates waiting to be written on. When you have written on those slates, and you have taught them something valuable, you know you have made a positive impact. My satisfaction in teaching does not come from the money, it is when the students pass through my hands and are holding their own in society and making positive contributions," said Thompson.

Hike in indiscipline

Discipline can be exercised in many different ways and Thompson is one teacher, who believes in firm disciplinary actions.

"Indiscipline has taken a hike in this country and, nowadays, you have to find other means of scolding the students," she said. Thompson's means include depriving the students of things they love for a time or isolating them and, likewise, when they do something positive, they should be rewarded.

"I really love my students and I take special interest in needy students, who are willing to learn.

Currently, I have a student living with me because I noticed that she had been absent from school for some time and, when I investigated the matter, I realised that her parents could no longer afford to send her to school," she revealed. "Since then, I have been responsible for her for the past three years and she has been doing well. I am really proud of her."