Students and teachers of education in the Caribbean have long relied on ethnographic research from North America to enrich their understanding of life in schools and classrooms. Based on actual experiences from the perspectives of both students and teachers, this collection of ethnographic research articles provides the first up-close view of Jamaican schools and classrooms. Hyacinth Evans and her research team used careful, well-executed interviews and participant observation methods. The result is an insightful view of the ways society's tensions are played out in educational settings, the ways personalities are shaped and identities formed in face-to-face interactions, and the ways circumstances and experiences in the Jamaican setting affect teaching and learning. The articles examine - Student-teacher interaction - Teacher authority - how it is maintained, nurtured, or eroded - The social construction of student interest and attention versus disruptiveness and apathy - Consequences of streaming children in perceived ability groups - Standard Jamaican English (SJE) methods and their effectiveness in teaching Creole-speaking students - Teaching and learning in schools where mater

Males and Tertiary Education in Jamaica is the result of five years' qualitative research examining the relationship between men and tertiary education. Herbert Gayle and Peisha Bryan focus on the lived experiences and perceptions of three sets of young men: those who did not qualify to enter university; those who qualified but bypassed tertiary education; and those who qualified but for varying reasons have delayed entry into university. Using rigorous, in-depth interviews to capture the lived experiences of 186 males between the ages of eighteen and thirty-nine years, compared to those of 74 females of the same comparative age group, the authors examine the realities of males regarding their wish or ability to attend university in Jamaica. They found that men's comparative absence from universities in Jamaica is cultural. Spurred by the world phenomenon of women's liberation, Jamaican families shifted their support towards educating women to the effect that female enrolment in tertiary institutions increased from 64 per cent of men in 1971 to 228 per cent of men in 2011. Participation in tertiary education in Jamaica is unquestionably gendered and this work is the first and book-length scholarly response to the question of why men are not attracted to tertiary education in Jamaica.

A little girl finds a stuffed dog in the park and decides to take it home.

This book seeks to share the experiences of gay males in Jamaica on their formal schooling experiences through reflection. It examines themes of curriculum, teacher behaviour, school leadership and advocacy, the role of the guidance counsellors, and the dynamics of navigating home, school, community and church for LGBT students. It examines the perceptions of self-identified Jamaican gay men and their understanding of their formal schooling experiences between the ages of 6 - 18 years. A snowball sample of 121 self-identified gay men completed the online questionnaire, participated in focus groups, and engaged in one-on-one interviews. I felt obligated, since, as a researcher, lecturer of diversity studies in education, and leadership and a person of influence, it was my duty to come in front of my own work and share my own voice. When I was young, I did not see any gay role models, except for those on TV. I did not see the successful black gay man that would have given me courage and hope to know that I could become more than what the school and neighbourhood bully said I would become. Today, things are slowly changing and more and more of our young black gay men have possibilities. With the work of leading LGBT organizations, movements, advocates, and allies, we will continue to hope, work, and advocate for change. I hope that this book will be part of the continued change towards a more understanding Jamaica - where our LGBT people will have the space to grow, flourish, and be celebrated.

There have been many great and enduring works of literature by Caribbean authors over the last century. The Caribbean Contemporary Classics collection celebrates these deep and vibrant stories, overflowing with life and acute observations about society. Three girls are on the brink of expulsion from the respected Redeemer College: 'Failure to complete term assignments, ... using foul language ... stealing another student's cell phone ... persistent lateness for English classes. Breaching the behaviour code ...' Katreena, Ta Jeeka and Caledonia are about to be written off. This insightful book unsentimentally exposes the fault lines through society, and the deep effects they have on individuals. It describes the choices people make and the decisions they feel forced in to. Maturing into young adulthood, these girls each have to make, or lose, their way, in their own way. What difference can one teacher make?

Leadership for Success is intended for a wide cross-section of educators, policymakers, educational planners, parents and the general readers who would like to learn how high-performing principals run schools effectively. The inspiring stories from seventeen seasoned professionals along with the supporting pieces by the editors will resonate with current principals, and educators across the spectrum will appreciate the experiences shared in this volume. This collection is an ideal resource for the aspiring principal as it provides the framework for making the transition to a leadership role by offering a connection between theory and practice. Senior teachers, who are increasingly being asked to take on responsibilities that have traditionally been the domain of the principals, will also benefit from the excellent information and valuable life experiences herein. The contributors offer vital lessons on the kinds of working relationships that are required among parents, school boards, communities, students, middle managers and the principals to make a difference in school performance. The contributors to Leadership for Success demonstrate beyond any doubt that it is the quality of leadership that makes a difference in students' outcomes, no matter the nature of the issues facing the principal. Educators in similar situations may blame their school's underperformance and poor outcomes on the lack of resources and support from the central ministry but the stories shared here demonstrate that much can be done despite limited resources.

This book investigates variation in the classroom speech of 7-year-old children who are learning Standard Jamaican English as a second language variety in rural Jamaica. For sociolinguists and second language/dialect researchers interested in the acquisition and use of sociolinguistic variables, an important challenge is how to efficiently account for language learning mechanisms and use. To date, this book is the first to offer an interdisciplinary look into phonological and phonetic variation observed in primary school in Jamaica, that is from the perspective of classic variationist and quantitative sociolinguistics and a usage-based model. Both frameworks function as explanatory for the children’s learning of phono-stylistic variation, which they encounter in their immediate linguistic environment, i.e. most often through their teachers’ speech. This book is intended for sociolinguists interested in child language variation, linguists working on formal aspects of the languages of the Caribbean, applied linguists concerned with the teaching and learning of second language phonology, and any researchers interested in applying variationist and quantitative methods to classroom second language learning.

Nowhere is teachers’ lives and work more challenging than in Jamaican schools. Teachers in Jamaica are regularly faced with limited resources and challenging students. Teacher pay has been historically low and current conditions continue a long tradition of providing minimal compensation for teachers’ work. Recent school reform efforts has been successful in producing a teaching force that is better educated than ever before, and yet, teachers are seldom given the autonomy in decision-making and/or respect that accompanies the work of comparable professions. Coupled with these issues, teachers regularly face hunger, poverty, behavioral issues and a lack of parental support as part and parcel of their experience in 21st century schools. If teachers are perceived as having low professional status, it is not surprising that they are often blamed for the shortcomings of Jamaican schools. The citizens of Jamaica are firmly committed to the notion that “every child can learn, every child must learn;” however, the reality is that while all children can learn, many children do not learn in this country where the allocation of resources favors the rich and disowns the poor. Public schools in Jamaica vary tremendously across the fourteen parishes. Geography and social class regularly determine both the context and circumstances of teachers’ work, and yet, discussions of teachers seldom acknowledge the differences. There is a place for a more in-depth examination of teachers’ work and teachers’ lives in Jamaica where a consideration of the emergence of teacher leadership and higher professional status can intersect with a vision of new roles and responsibilities for teachers. While many of the reports on Jamaican education consider the role of administrative leaders, there is an absence of any discussion of the role of teacher leaders is school reform. It is interesting that a country can advocate for higher levels of teacher preparation and an upgrading of the professional status of teachers, and yet, ignore the potential power of teachers as major actors directing efforts to reform the schools. Teachers acting as leaders, in a profession dominated by women, would challenge the status quo and usurp preconceived notions regarding the work of teachers. In this book, 21st century descriptions of teachers’ lives and work will accompany a consideration of how the transformation of the teaching profession could positively impact both schools and classrooms across the island.

This book brings together leading scholars of Caribbean education from around the world. Schooling continues to hold a special place both as a means to achieve social mobility and as a mechanism for supporting the economy of Caribbean nations. In this book, the Caribbean includes the Greater and Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles is made up of the five larger islands (and six countries) of the northern Caribbean, including the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, and Jamaica. The Lesser Antilles includes the Windward and Leeward Islands which are inclusive of Barbados, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago along with several other islands. Each chapter provides a unique perspective on the various social and cultural issues that define Caribbean education and schooling. The Handbook on Caribbean Education fills a void in the literature and documents the important research being done throughout the Caribbean. Creating a space where Caribbean voices are a part of “international” discussions about 21st century global matters and concerns is an important contribution of this work.

Despite having a number of potential attributes (such as being English-speaking, having poverty levels below that of comparable countries and a reasonably well-educated labour force), Jamaicas economic history is marked by the paradoxes of low growth in GDP and high employment despite high investment and important achievements in poverty reduction. This publication seeks to examines these issues, and topics discussed include: poverty reduction and income inequality; whether Jamaicas GDP growth has been underestimated; policy options for reducing the fiscal and debt burden, revitalising the financial system; improving education outcomes, tackling the economic costs of crime, and improving international competitiveness.