No Tattooed Teachers, Please!

It would be expected that a country whose history demonstrates the injustices of slavery for centuries, would produce descendants who are accepting of people's differences. But, this is not the case in Jamaica where descendants of slaves tend to forget that during earlier years, the majority Black population was denied many social services and opportunities well after the abolition of slavery because of the color of their skin. Many may not remember or have knowledge of the fact that up to the early 1960's, dark-skinned Jamaicans could not obtain jobs at major corporations especially if the position required them to serve the public. Therefore, it is a sad state of affair when Ruel Reid and others in top positions at the Ministry of Education are heard expressing adamantly that even if a teacher is qualified, he or she would not be hired if that applicant has a tattoo. Ruel Reid and those education administrators who are decrying tattooed teachers have conveniently forgotten or have no clue that in years gone by, they too would be denied a job not because of their qualifications but as a result of the color of their skin. How quickly they forget their history! But, wonder if such tattoo policies are extended to foreign Cuban teachers?
Tattooed Teachers Lash Education Minister

Cuban Teachers in Jamaica

It is amazing to see that the Ministry of Education has contracted Cuban teachers to work in Jamaica. Regardless of their expertise in a subject, for someone coming from Cuba, teaching Spanish may come natural to them, and this statement may be debatable since not all natives can teach others their own language. But, with the complexities of teaching Physics and Chemistry, one can only imagine the abilities of these teachers to convey the intricacies of these subjects to students in English. All Cubans have to start from scratch when they enter the United States. First, they must complete ESL classes and achieve English Language state standards in Reading, Grammar, Listening, and in some states, Writing before they are permitted to enroll in college credit courses to obtain a Bachelors degree and subsequently certification to teach in the schools. Jamaica, on the other hand, has made it easy for them to simply begin teaching at once. Nevertheless, this program has certainly allowed many Cubans to leave the dismal, poverty stricken daily life in communist Cuba to reside in a free atmosphere in Jamaica. Yet, it is quite ironic that these second language speakers are welcomed to teach in Jamaica when a Jamaican teacher residing in the United States with American M.Sc. and Doctorate degrees did not get the time of day when applications were made to teach a subject that she has taught to high school and first year college level students in the United States for over 10 years. Mind you, this Jamaican teacher, on sabbatical leave, applied primarily for teaching positions advertised for a one term period. One would think that is a good fit to obtain a qualified teacher in a subject area where there is a temporary need until the permanent teacher returns. However, nothing in Jamaica is logical. It's who you know - not who knows you to progress there. But, wonder if the strict tattoo policies of the Ministry of Education are extended to foreign Cuban teachers?
Twenty Cuban Teachers Arrive for Jamaican Schools
Reflection of an Untrained Unqualified Teacher