St. Jean urges principals to be effective managers

Principals at the meeting on Friday

Minister of Education and Human Resource Development Petter St. Jean has urged principals all around the island to take charge of their schools and be effective managers.

Addressing the nation’s school principals at a meeting on Friday he said education is important and that they along with the Ministry of Education were charged with the future of the island.

“Children face many distractions that may interrupt learning however I believe that it is our responsibility to provide them with the right environment that promote effective teaching and learning,” he said.

He added that principals should motivate their team and adopt the policy of the Ministry of Education’s “Every Child can learn.”

He encouraged principals to become change agents and move away from the outdated teaching methods and make use of available technology. “It is OK to adapt to the changes to meet the needs of your students, you must be willing to take your schools into new areas, into new levels of teaching and learning. This could mean making use of the technology at the school. Move away from the old modalities and be innovative and creative,” St. Jean stated.

He added, “Furthermore I believe for effective management to take place there must be a greater emphasis on classroom management. Ensure that teachers are engaged in best classroom practices.”

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30 Comments

  1. Justice and Truth
    September 11, 2012

    Caring and sharing. Ironically, someone sent the following to me in the form of an email. It is an excellent article which is worth taking note of and sharing. The inner driving force which cannot be resisted prompts me to share excellent, interesting and educating articles with others.
    I am one of those who wholeheartedly believe in teaching the children well by words and example. I will also proudly state, thanks be to God and my parents nurturing, it is a hereditary trait, an asset which is serving me well in my adult years. They deserve the praise. The saying: “There but for the grace of God go I.” St. Paul said, “Share all good things with one another.” Patience is a godly virtue. :) Reading could be educating in itself. I am happy to pass it on:

    Who is a teacher? From a School Principal’s speech at a graduation: He said, “Doctor wants his child to become a doctor. Engineer wants his child to become an engineer. Businessman wants his ward to become CEO. But a teacher also wants his child to become one of them. Nobody wants to become a teacher ‘By Choice’. Very sad but that’s the truth.”
    The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO decided to discuss the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided that his best option in life was to become a teacher.” To stress his point he said to another guest, “You’re a teacher … be honest. What do you make?”
    Teacher … who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied: “You want to know what I make? She paused for a second then began: “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ (plus) feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner. I make kids sit through forty minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 minutes, without an IPod, game cube or movie rental.
    You want to know what I make? A pause again … and she looked at each and every person at the table:
    I make kids wonder. I make them think. I make them question. I make them apologize and I mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them how to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.
    I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
    I make my classroom a place where all my students could feel safe.
    Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.
    She paused one last time and then she continued, “Then when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.” You want to know what I make?
    I make a difference in all your lives, educating kids and teaching them to become CEOs and doctors and engineers … What do you make Mr. CEO? His jaw dropped. He went silent.

    My further comments: This is worth sharing with everyone who teaches, like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, coaches, spiritual leaders, educators, principals, teachers. Last but not least, government officials, all those who make a world of difference in especially the life of children and disciplining them accordingly. Children are the future adults who will, one day, take their rightful place in society for their benefit and that of their country and nationals. Life is a growing and learning process. Teach them well. Teach and lead by example. Life is short. Time flies. It waits for no one. How those years fly. Make the most of them and the opportunity fruitfully.

  2. Wino
    September 11, 2012

    Mr, St. Jean every child can learn, but it is not every child that is academic some are technical. it would seem to me that our school system is geared strictly towards academics. It would also seem to me that when some children does not learn all blame is on our poor Teachers and Principals, what about the student? Mr. St. Jean as a past principal you should know that ALL stakeholders have a vital role to play in the effective education of our children. I have a very nice acronym… PRIDE. Personal Responsibility In Developing Excellence. This is what i am challenging our students to develop.

  3. true dominican
    September 10, 2012

    ALAS ALAS ALAS

  4. ??
    September 10, 2012

    Until teachers, principals, and leaders within the Min. of Education are held ACCOUNTABLE for their actions of lack thereof as it relates to educating or children, the Min. can “urge” all he wants … ain’t nothing gonna change. And parents … be PARENTS! learning begins at home.

  5. HATE
    September 9, 2012

    St. Jean taking those speech notes from other countries. lol… The technology piece. by why didn’t he give examples… ?

    What technology are our schools equipped with? cell phones?
    lol
    Joke on St Jean..

    But good for Dcans. We don’t vote for capable people, it is a popularity contest.. so take what we get …

    • Peeping Tom
      September 10, 2012

      HATE: «What technology are our schools equipped with? cell phones?»

      So, you mean the UWPWee did not even equip those schools with «technology» while they were in office? Oh my!

    • Justice and Truth
      September 11, 2012

      @ HATE

      It is an excellent idea that they derive relevant information from other countries. Just as long as the children are properly taught and pass their exams.

      • ian
        September 11, 2012

        the point is, our ministers go out there and give impression. as a teacher, ministry of education doesnt give teachers simple materials to teach the children muchless for technology. thank god for lime, who is giving schools free internet so teachers who own a personal computer can use it to help the children understand certain things better. no thanks to ministry of education.

  6. observant
    September 9, 2012

    Aha. But you ignoring the learning environment in Newtown. Every year you all are saying you will not spend money on repairs because a new school has to be built – you are just a talker man!

  7. BRAIN DAMAGE
    September 9, 2012

    Mad Educators.

  8. Curious
    September 8, 2012

    Hahahah… Mr. Minister of education, you forgot you were once a teacher right? Teachers take their poor salary to buy all school supplies. sometimes down to chalk. Please take a look back. Are you providing the resources/materials to all schools? Teachers have been suffering for too long. Begging for a salary increase. Now Mr. Minister you touching the big bucks; you forgot what you were once a teacher? Now you’re singing a different song? You had to sweat and toil working the land in order to support your family . Why, because teaching could not help you. The money was too small, up to this very day. Teachers are under paid. Think back Mr.Minister.

    • kim
      September 10, 2012

      I agree the minister was a farmer, and he always said he was a farmer first and teacher last.
      was it that farming was bringing more money????

  9. Too much red tape
    September 8, 2012

    Well congrats petter always good advice but cant seem to make it urs. Well their good management starts wit u. U mayb 4 get u couldnt get the DGS a biology teacher for months last school year

  10. Concerned Citizen
    September 8, 2012

    Mr. St Jean, I hope high on your agenda will be paying the teachers who have graduated from college a higher salary,than a high school graduate. Also, Mr. St Jean I find it disrespectful to call a graduate teacher, UNQUALIFIED TEMPORARY TEACHER. Please Mr. St Jean, this needs urgent attention..

  11. Education
    September 8, 2012

    Mr.St.Jean…remember the seeds that you and your the other minister and skerrit are sowing today in the country among the young people and the nation as a whole….REST ASSURED THAT YOU ALL WILL LIVE TO REAP THE HARVEST. At every occassion you get take the time to blame other people for u all HIGH LEVEL OF INCOMPETENCES IN GOVERNING THIS COUNTRY. GOD IS NOT A SLEEP. Principals remember after God make sure you all take care of u all health. Too many teachers off late are dieing with all kind od complication all of a sudden.Is ministry concern about that???? remember 1% increase. ask the DAT president….Teachers/Principals….whose interest is that woman looking out for?….

  12. my opinion
    September 8, 2012

    man like peter stjean lucky is politics that got them there,qualification wise they would never hold these positions. that man just talking and saying what he wants, he is so mis-informed about so many things…………….

  13. Rule
    September 8, 2012

    St Jean must start leading first before he can insist on managerial skills. Furthermore, the ministry of education must provide the tools in advance teaching technology for teachers to use them. You can’t ask them to utilize something they don’t have.

  14. Freethinker
    September 8, 2012

    Distractions like those satanic gay people you want to burn like witches in the Dark Ages, eh, St. Jean?

  15. What?
    September 8, 2012

    somebody asked petter st.jean thia question for me please. Ask him, when he was principal of the primary school in Laplaine whether he did things he is know asking principals to do? come on petter st, don’t you have a conscience?…..you are asking proncipals to now kill themselves at schools?,……while the major of these children parents do not care about them? Remember the longest road has a bend and the longest rope its end

    • Bro doks
      September 8, 2012

      I don’t remember him being principal at La Plaine though… I could be wrong!

    • (.) (.)
      September 8, 2012

      Haven’t you heard the saying …’the older you get the wiser you become’?. Well, I guess he has learned alot and in order to prevent the principals from going down the road he has been he is giving them advise. I would not say that he is asking anyone to kill themselves.

    • Curious
      September 8, 2012

      Dear what,

      Correction, Petter St.Jean was only a qualified teacher at the Jones Beaupierre Primary. He forgot he was that teacher. Don’t worry as you say the longest rope has an end.

  16. Jaime Lewis
    September 7, 2012

    An excellent call from the Minister – school principals are managers of their schools. Is there a management training program in place for these administrators? Are they being provided with the tools to excel as managers and supervisors? I would recommend a course offered at the State College for school principals in the area of school management, behavior modification, managing personnel, curriculum development, and even fundraising, among other topics. Best wishes to the ministry and the school principals.

  17. Just Reading
    September 7, 2012

    You want principals to be effective managers and a principal is asking for a teacher at a school where classes were pulled out from other teachers to give him, just because he wrote frankly about occurrences within the education system….you all put your egoes above the students who could benefit from that teacher..too much victimization within the education system, so good teachers are flying out of the classroom like flies….St. Jean must check the managerial skills of his administrators…who lead only by victimization and pettiness.

  18. ....................
    September 7, 2012

    More Blah blah Blah… A group of clowns!
    Take charge of the large percentage of absenteeism that exists at our schools.
    Many of these principals are loud mouth principals, but what they do is just lock themselves in an office from 8am to 1pm or 9 to 3.30pm

  19. Lapte
    September 7, 2012

    There is a difference between management and leadership…..it’s ok to be a great manager but even better to be effective leaders

  20. Commenting
    September 7, 2012

    Shut up st jean. All the promises allu make to teachers teaching 5 and more years, then last election 2 or more years time to keep allu promise. Most of them are now trained so give them their appointment and increase in salary. A teacher cannot be working for 1400 in this day and again. Allu to wicked.

    • *
      September 7, 2012

      And to add insult to injury, they are calling upon teachers to get blood out of stone. Things that they themselves could not do in the classroom.
      There are many vindictive principals attending this workshop, with ‘slackers’ on their good books, and the real hard workers on their bad books. SHAME ON THOSE PRINCIPALS WHO FALL IN THIS CATEGORY.

      • Anonymous
        September 9, 2012

        I say Amen!! to that. As a former teacher in DA I know of this first hand. A co-worker who had her class right next to mine came to work late everyday. It meant that I had to attend to her class and mine (over 60 students) until she got there. I did this everyday but one particular morning she got there and her students were not settled yet and were still standing outside of her classroom (mark you she was late again). I had just settled my students and then stepped out to take care of hers when she got there. This woman was livid. She reported me to the principal who made it look like I was the one doing the wrong thing. This woman never did any actual teaching with the students.I know because I was right next to her and to top it off my son was in her class ugg! I know I was a darned good teacher then in DA and still is in another place. I enjoy making a difference in children’s lives; one child at a time. Principals should not have preferences with staff members. They are there to manage and they should do it effectively and in the best interests of the students. I have lost respect for that ex-principal and that teacher, I am happy she left the teaching profession to pursue her other interest.

  21. Anonymous
    September 7, 2012

    This is quite a positive initiative indeed.

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