“They Call Me Teacher”: Biography of Sir Howard Cooke
By: , July 12, 2014The Key Point:
The Facts
- For 23 years he served as a teacher, starting at Mico College and Practising School.
- Sir Howard Cooke entered politics in 1938 as one of the founding members of the People’s National Party.
The Full Story
“They Call me Teacher” is the aptly titled biography of the Most Honourable Sir Howard Felix Hanlan Cooke, ON, GCMG, GCVO, CD, Jamaica’s fourth, native-born Governor General.
While most Jamaican’s will remember Sir Howard as being the Queen’s representative, Sir Howard was, at his core, an educator.
Sir Howard was born in Goodwill, St. James, on November 13, 1915 to David Brown Cooke and Mary Jane Minto. He was educated at elementary and private schools, Mico College and London University.
Educator
For 23 years he served as a teacher, starting at Mico College and Practising School. He later served as headmaster at Belle Castle All-Age School, Port Antonio Upper School and Montego Bay Boys’ School, having a personal love for bringing education to children in rural areas.
He was also a member and former president of the Jamaica Union of Teachers.
During the course of his career, he served in the insurance industry in the following positions: Senior Inspector and Branch Manager, Standard Life Insurance Company; Unit Manager, Jamaica Mutual Life; Branch Manager; American Life Insurance Company (ALICO)…READ MORE
