A teacher's first day on the job is usually one filled with anticipation and trepidation. These emotions marked Kemorine Buchanan's entrance into the profession.

"At first, I felt intimidated but when I talked with them (the students) and got to know more about them and their backgrounds, things became easier," she told THE STAR. Buchanan is a teacher at Jamaica College, an all-boy high school located on Old Hope Road, St Andrew.

She was pleased to become part of a great high-school tradition.

Buchanan teaches English language and English literature to first-, second- and third-form students, as well as communication studies to sixth-formers. She said she was hoping for good results later this year.

Education and training

Buchanan grew up in Irwin, St James. She attended Montego Bay High School and later the community college where she did pre-university arts and business studies.

She enrolled at the University of the West Indies in 2004, graduating in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in language communication and society. She has been teaching at JC since January 2008.

Interestingly, this young, enthusiastic teacher harboured hopes of becoming a journalist during her earlier years. However, she adds that she has found several ways of putting her communication training to use in the classroom.

Crusades

Buchanan is a member of the Baptist Church who is guided by a portion of scripture found in Phillipians: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

She bemoans the impact that dancehall music is having on the youth population, and her institution, in particular, which affects their speech and mannerism.

"Dancehall is affecting their behaviour and attitude, and their outlook on exams," she said. "We have been having gospel crusades at the school, and there are indications that a change in behaviour has started," she noted.

Buchanan also revealed that in order to counter the dancehall culture, she has devised ways of incorporating certain aspects of it into the curriculum.