Winfield 'Jeff' Wright - elgin taylor

By Elgin taylor, STAR Writer

The perception exists in some quarters in Jamaica where a teacher is seen in the light of a 'Jack of all trades.' He is expected to be able to assume and function in many roles, and to give advice and insights into most things.

One such teacher who fits this profile is Winfield 'Jeff' Wright, principal of Bois Content All Age School in St. Catherine. In a career spanning close to four decades, he has been actively involved not only in the administration of his school, but also in organising sporting events in Clarendon, as well as managerial work at the principals' cluster level. He has also been involved in the field of music .

Credentials

He was born in Frankfield, Clarendon and received his early education at the primary school in that town. It was also at this school that he later obtained a job as a pre-trained teacher. This was in September of 1967. He explained:

"Previously, I had farming on my mind as a vocation, but this initial contact with the children got me hooked. I soon realised that the classroom was my calling."

From 1968 - 1971 he enrolled as a student at Mico Teacher Training College. This period included an internship year which was spent at Knox College in Clarendon. He migrated to the United States of America in 1974 and continued his education at Goshen College, Indiana. The end result is that he graduated from that institution in 1977 with a bachelors degree in Physical Education, Health and Recreation.

Then in 2004 he obtained a diploma in Education and Leadership from Mount Saint Vincent University in Canada.

Wright also taught at Clarendon College, Munro College and Manchester High School before being selected for his current job of principal at Bois Content All Age School. He acquired this status in January, 1988. The school itself is located seven and a half miles north of Old Harbour, St. Catherine.

A tool of discipline

On the subject of discipline in schools, he said: "A lot of people would be surprised to learn the extent to which sporting activities can be used to teach discipline." This is so, he said, because of the rules and regulations involved.

He pointed to the fact that at his school there is no playfield as such, but that they utilise whatever space there is, to get the students involved in some form of physical training. However, whenever there is a match, for example cricket, they had to travel by foot to a playfield some two miles away.

"The discipline of my students is fairly good," he explained. "In fact I daresay that it is above average," he added.

A case in point is the assistance given recently by prefects of this rural school. When the teachers withdrew their services for three days to protest the poor condition of the school's roadway, classes were kept in session with the assistance of the prefects.

Various duties

In addition to his duties as a school administrator, he supervises the bee and chicken projects at his school. He is also involved in music, serving on two choirs. He sings with the May Pen Community Chorale and the group 'Concerned.' This latter is drawn from the Church of God in Jamaica and is comprised of a group of Christian men.

Their main aim is the preservation of traditional hymns and choruses. They aim to achieve this goal through their performances.

Wright revealed that he will retire at the end of the school year. However, he said that he is immensely satisfied with what he has been able to accomplish in the lives of the students.