Kent H. Manno
About 10 years ago, I participated in a Canadian-American Teachers Institute sponsored by the University of Maine. The purpose of this institute was to help American teachers incorporate Canadian history and culture into their curriculum. Stick with me for a second, if I can beg your indulgence.
As you may or may not know, the history curriculum in most high schools in the United States have taken on more of a global focus. As a history teacher for the past 30 years, I have resisted the move away from the traditional "western" focus. I felt that we needed to give our students a good foundation in our western tradition which they could build on later with non-western studies.
This year our history department is pushing forward with this goal….adding more global content. My contribution, among many, will be to add quite a bit of information on Caribbean Basin history to our Age of Exploration chapter. And yes, I am going to add quite a bit on The Bahamas! As a matter of fact, my students will be reading "The Fledgling" by Chester Thompson. (Mr. Thompson called me the other day and informed me that he knows my mother and my uncle…small world.)
Ok, to my original point which would be a collaborative effort. Similar to my experience with the Canadian-American Institute, why not have a Bahamian-American Teachers Institute. Perhaps we could get several high school teachers and COB professors involved in this effort. Teachers from the United States could exchange ideas on curriculum and how to integrate Caribbean and Bahamian history into their curriculum. Teachers could also experience some true culture and not the "cruise ship" portrayal of The Bahamas.
Ultimately, it will be the students, our future leaders that will benefit from such an exchange.
Sounds like a constructive idea from which teachers can benefit.. However, what must be addressed is how do you fix a failing system of education not only in the Bahamas but in the United States as well.. This is of the highest priority to make education a life changing experience..
In the Bahamas we blame the failure on the government, on the teachers and unions.. Could the real problem be the students themselves who have little if any self-esteem and lack as sense of positive character?? Perhaps it is time for a new and fresh approach to education..