Golden educators, nation’s longest-serving teachers celebrated
Published:Wednesday | July 12, 2023 | 12:07 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Two of the nation’s longest-serving teachers, both in St James and who have worked tirelessly on the frontline in education for a combined 94 years, were the toast of yesterday’s Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Golden Torch awards.
Melrose Cameron, formerly of DRB Grant Basic Early Childhood (Resource Centre), and Dr Lorna Gow-Morrison, of Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College, have been imparting knowledge in the sector for 49 and 45 years, respectively.
Cameron told The Gleaner that she is a proud recipient of the award and would not change a day, looking back at her near half-century run.
“I am elated and feeling good to know that I could have received such an award,” she said.
As a child and growing up, Cameron said she always played the role of teacher.
“I have siblings and my cousins around me and I would always play the teacher,” the now retired educator said.
She said she approached education by putting her all into it and is happy she was able to touch the lives of many of her past students, with whom she shares an extremely good relationship.
She got more than $3,000 worth of credit from a past student recently, one she had not been in contact with for years.
“He said to me I would never forget you. You are such a good teacher. I remembered you for many things,” Cameron said.
According to Cameron, her mantra is ‘If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my life will not be in vain’.
“I am happy for what I was able to do… . I try to help as many persons as I can - children, middle age and older folks. Those are the persons I go for and I think I will continue to do that until I can’t do no more,” Cameron said.
Gow-Morrison, who will officially be retired soon, shared similar sentiments and envisions herself teaching until the wheels fall off.
“I fell in love with teaching, I still love teaching and even though I will retire effective August 31st, but teaching is not confine to the classroom,” she told The Gleaner.
I have been recognised as a recipient at the 2023 awards, Gow-Morrison told The Gleaner filled with excitement.
“For me, it has invited me to just look back at who I am and how I am,” she said.
Having some of her past students in attendance or watching on the virtual platform was even more enchanting.
Gow-Morrison said the stories from past students, even one who reminded her of a handbag she gave her more than 20 years ago as part of helping her prep for her first flight, touched her.
“The stories just remind me that teaching is a profession of impacting in ways that we are conscious of and also in ways we are not aware of,” Gow-Morrison said.
She said it is all about to continue doing good and being for God.
“I’m excited, I feel light, the joy of knowing that I have been in the profession for 45 years without even realising it is so long. To be lauded at a function like this, to God be the glory,” Gow-Morrison said.
Her husband, who was her friend then, was the one who encouraged her to start a career as an educator at age 17.
She remembers being 17 and teaching grade-nine students, some of whom were also 17-year-olds.
Gow-Morrison said, “My husband now, who was my friend then, said (come) September you are not going back to Pear Tree Grove All-Age, make up your mind you not continuing as a pre-trained teacher so is either you go to CAST (now University of Technology) or you go to college… . I started falling in love with teaching, so I chose to attend the Passley Gardens Teachers’ College in Portland and the rest is history.”
The award function, now in its 30th year, was held inside The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
More than 200 teachers from across Jamaica were recognised for their over 35 years of contribution to education.