Principal Urges Parents To Be More Active In The Lives Of Children

Reigning Lasco Principal of the Year, Mrs. Heather Murray, is challenging parents and teachers to begin playing a more active role in the lives of children, especially in the current situation where they are easily distracted.

Speaking at a ceremony to honour two recently retired Holly Hill Primary and Infant School Teachers at the Dillion Bigwoods Holiness Church in Westmoreland, on December 18, Mrs. Murray said the role of teachers and parents in molding today’s children is more demanding and a concerted effort is needed to ensure that they are kept on the straight and narrow path.

She said valuable young lives are being lost because of a lack of direction and teachers and parents, especially those who are part of any Parent-Teacher Association must begin to play a more decisive role in building and guiding the lives of the youth across Jamaica.

Mrs. Murray, who is the Principal of the Hampton School in St. Elizabeth, urged parents and teachers to adopt what she termed the ‘7-Ups’ of  life, in lifting and molding lives.

“When you wake UP in the morning, people must decide to have a good day…then dress UP in order to make an impression…Shut UP…learn to listen to the children and in order to listen, you have to be silent…stand UP for something or else you will fall for anything…look UP…look up to the Lord Jesus at all times, but especially when things are not going good….reach UP…try to improve your situation in life, get a good education and be productive…lift UP your prayers and those around you,” she urged.

Lauding the retirees, Mrs. Murray said while teachers may not receive the rewards for their years of hard work in the classroom, they should be satisfied that they would have helped to build productive and professional lives.

The retired teachers  honoured were former Principal of the school, Audley Townsend, who served the profession for 37 years, 31 of which were spent at the Holly Hill Primary and Infant School, and Mrs. Yvonne Stewart who left the profession after 33 years, of which 20 were spent at the same institution.

The former teachers were presented with several gifts by the Jamaica Teachers’ Association, the Parent-Teacher Association, the school community and members of the Academic and ancillary staff.