A blot on our education system
Published:Saturday | March 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
On February 17, 2011, The Gleaner published the photograph of a directional sign at the intersection of Hagley Park and Eastwood Park roads. The word 'road' was misspelt in two different ways ('Molynes Rord'; 'Hagley Park Raod'). Thanks to The Gleaner for pointing out the aberration. The blunder was corrected within 24 hours (unusual by Jamaican standards).
However, we should not leave the matter there. How long was the sign there? Did it have to take The Gleaner to point this out? I agree with the person who wondered "how many stages of production this sign passed through before printing and how many people missed simple errors". Where was the supervisor? Someone should pay for this!
Incorrect signs
How many incorrect signs have been erected on parochial roads? I've seen a few in Manchester ('Hopton' in the Dunrobin area and 'Notting Ham', I think, in the Lincoln area). Part of the problem is that too many Jamaicans are not interested in what the correct word is in the first place. So in Mandeville, many persons, especially taxi drivers, continue to speak of 'Wards Avenue' and 'Hatsfield'; in Spanish Town, it is 'B(o)urkes Road' for 'Burke Road', 'Scarlet(t) Road' for 'Corletts Road', and 'McGregor Lane', instead of 'McVicar Lane'.
The person who spelled 'road' twice and couldn't get it right went to school at taxpayers' expense! The misspelling is not only a blot on our education system, but also a blot on the parents who are products of that system. And, please don't tell me that you have seen 'No Write Turn' in the United Kingdom and 'Shcool' in the United States. I am a proud Jamaican. We should try to outperform these countries academically, not just in sport.
Furthermore, the error reminds us of the corruption in the country, e.g., persons who have driver's licences, but can't read. Many Jamaicans want jobs, but refuse to step up to the plate and improve themselves academically. The world has changed, and low-skilled jobs have become fewer and the pay is low.
I am, etc.,
NORMAN W.M. THOMPSON
Northern Caribbean University