Elgin Taylor, Star Writer

Sonia Donna Marie Stewart-Edwards. - Elgin Taylor

The advent of the computer has generated much accolades and the notion that it is the panacea for all the ills in education. But not all educators share this sentiment, and among this lot is Sonia Donna Marie Stewart-Edwards, a teacher-librarian at Old Harbour High School in St. Catherine.

"Things are too easy, far too easy," she told The Star.

"Because of the increase in technology, students are not using up their analytical skills. They google and download everything. Whenever they are told to read a book, they reply by saying that they have to get on the 'net. Their analytical skills would have been better utilised by reading a book," she stated.

She believes that one of the ways of reigniting the passion for reading in the students is for principals to give more support to librarians and by extension, the development of the libraries within their institutions.

"I feel that principals need to play a more active part by giving more support to librarians," she posited.

"It has to be the policy that teachers must see to it that the students read particular books in order to get the relevant information," she opined.

A healthy balance

She further stated that she was not advocating a ban on students using the Internet, but rather that she would like to see a healthy balance.

Stewart-Edwards, who was born in Broadgate, St. Mary, has had 12 years' experience in the teaching profession.

She got her first teaching job at the Lucky Valley All-Age School in St. Catherine, in 1991. She spent two years at that institution before seeking further training at Mico Teachers' College. She attended this latter institution for four years, 1994-1998. She did a preliminary year of study in order to matriculate for the regular programme. She graduated with a diploma in secondary education in the area of music and library science. She informed The Star that she received two awards while attending Mico, the Sir Hubert Lewis award for librarianship and the Sidney Morris award for music.

Her quest for knowledge took her next to the University of the West Indies where she obtained a bachelor's degree in 2004 in the area of library science and information studies.

She also taught at the Waterford High School (1998-1999) and at Linstead Primary and Junior High School where she spent six years (1999-2005). At these institutions she served as a teacher/librarian.

She joined the staff at her present school in October, 2006. She functions both as a librarian and a teacher of research methods to six formers.

But her foray into the teaching profession nearly didn't happen. Her first love was nursing, but after visiting a murder scene in Linstead in the 1970s, where five alleged criminals were shot and killed, she changed her mind.

Today however, the minister's daughter is very upbeat about her chosen profession. Her mantra is to put God first in whatever she does. She said that when this is done, everything else falls into place.

She also revealed that she is planning to enrol at the University of the West Indies next year to pursue a masters degree in library science and information studies. But this, she added with a mischievous smile, "is a done deal. I have already been accepted, but have had it deferred until next school year."