Judisha Blackwood - Elgin Taylor

The maxim that theory informs practice is well known to most students. However, one young teacher, Judisha Blackwood of St James High School in Montego Bay, does not subscribe to this notion, as it relates to the Jamaican situation.

"Based on the experience I have had, I cannot agree with this statement," she said.

"I experienced a culture shock when I left college and entered the classroom as a full-fledged teacher for the first time. The theories we were taught in college are from a different culture, from a different time. For instance, which takes into account the plight of our inner-city kids or the present recession?" she asked rhetorically.

Blackwood went on to enumerate the different challenges faced by teachers who work in inner-city areas. These include the students' need for attention, love and guidance. She noted that many of them have seen relatives killed or maimed by the gun, have low concept of self, have to be living in constant fear and trepidation, and are listless and disruptive in class.

strategies to deliver

"As a teacher, one has to think hard to find strategies to deliver the content in a way to get their attention. You have to encourage them, help to develop their self-concept, show them a purpose in life and motivate them. You have to motivate them to get them interested in learning and, when you have achieved this, you have to motivate them to stay focused. This is hard work, it is not just writing a lesson plan and delivering it," she declared.

An avowed Christian, Blackwood was born in Linstead, St Catherine. She attended Dinthill Technical High School in the parish and later Shortwood Teachers Training College in St. Andrew (2001-2004) from which she obtained a secondary-education diploma in food and nutrition.

She got her first teaching job at Rosemount Primary and Junior High School in Linstead (2004-2006) before taking a year off to pursue a bachelor's degree in food and health at the University of Technology (UTECH), St Andrew.

completing her degree

After successfully completing her degree, she returned to the classroom in September 2007 as a member of staff at St James High School in Montego Bay. She spent two years there before moving to Spot Valley High School (also in the Montego Bay area).

Blackwood said her new school is just five years old and she feels honoured to be a part of its development. She said as the school develops, so does she.

Noting that the school society represents a microcosm of the wider society, she stated that she has become a counsellor out of sheer necessity.

She said she loves the children and is encouraged by their response to her teaching. She noted that on occasions many of them have come up to her and stated, "Miss, mi want better fi misself, mi want fi learn."