By Michael Findlay, STAR Writer

Karlene Thomas-Laing - Contributed

watermount, st catherine

Karlene Thomas-Laing had the option of teaching at the adult level, but she just loved working with children. She said she plans to go to the highest level, like teaching university graduates on how to work with children.

Thomas-Laing, 25, teaches at the Watermount All-Age School. As a child, she attended Ecceleston Primary and Tacius Golding High, also in St. Catherine, before attending St. Joseph Teachers College where she obtained a teacher's diploma in primary eduation. She is currently attending Northern Caribbean University.

proper pay

The current impasse between Government and teachers over salary has not escaped her eye. "If it was for the wages alone, I would not be in the profession, but when we look at what teachers are earning in other countries with the same qualification, it is dis-couraging. Government should provide for teachers, since it is the most important of all the professions," she said.

Thomas-Laing observed that if anyone is serious about education, he or she must first try to create the avenue that will help to give children the mindset to learn. Thus, spacious and comfortable class rooms are necessary. "The transformation in education is a step in the right direction for a fully numerate and literate society," she added.

unfair evaluation

The young educator is against performance-based pay. "What about teachers who are teaching lower stream or slow learners. How would you judge their performance? Furthermore it was used already in the 80s and they found flaws in the system."

On the subject of discipline and violence in schools, Mrs. Laing believes the problem is due to lack of parental guidance and peer pressure. Her solution is to have a public campaign launched to expose the importance of discipline. Also the P.T.A. should have sessions on how to cope or handle the situation at home.

Mrs. Thomas-Laing is married with one daughter. Her pastime is writing poems, playing netball and riding bicycle. She is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.