BY GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Teacher Nora Clarke assists a student in her class at the Newton Primary School in St. Elizabeth, recently. - Geroge Henry

MALVERN, ST. ELIZABETH:

Nora Clarke is in charge of teaching grade one and two at the Newton Primary School in St. Elizabeth. She has been a classroom teacher for the past 17 years and has been enjoying it. Clarke, who told THE STAR that she and a sister who has migrated are the only members of her family involved in teaching, said she likes the profession, especially the students who are at the primary level in grades one and two.

"I love teaching because it is a dignified profession. I like to deal with the small children because they are easy to manage and I can control them. The students at this age are very receptive and that is one of the reasons why I like to teach them," said Mrs. Clarke.

She added that all her years in teaching have been spent at her current place of work, and that she likes Newton Primary because she has seen the need to help students from that part of St. Elizabeth in their development into educated citizens who, within a few years, will be making a contribution to the development of Jamaica.

The students she has taught over the almost two decades have been very appreciative to Mrs. Clarke, who pointed out that their appreciation has been shown in different ways. She noted that the attitude of the scores of students she has taught over the years and the respect they have shown towards her is enough to show their gratitude.

"They are very respectful towards me and they are willing to do things. When I tell especially the students who are in the lower class to make things for the classroom, they do so willingly. They are very cooperative," she said.

For slow learners, Mrs. Clarke pointed out that she has to be very patient with them in order to get them to learn. Though they are slow in learning, the teacher added that several methods have had to be used among them to assist in their learning. But according to her, teachers who are impatient with especially those who are slow readers will not be successful in getting them to learn.

She added that care has to be taken so as not to frustrate them, causing them to give up on themselves. The teacher said even if it means a teacher having to go over a lesson a dozen times with slow learners, that should be done while changing teaching strategies to make their (slow learners) success a reality.

Clarke made it clear that teaching was always a part of her dream from she was a young girl. She explained that she used to teach the bushes and stones and when they could not learn she would give them a good spanking with a piece of stick.

"I used to use the broom weed bush and beat the bushes and stones and tell them to learn their lesson and especially their ABCs. It was from then that I developed a love for teaching and then later in life I attended West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University) where I pursued studies in primary education," said the lover of children.

She believes that teachers, during the days when she was attending school, were more dedicated in comparison to those coming out of teachers' colleges these days. Clarke wants young teachers to try with their students and not to call them dunce, because all can and should learn.