Unruly and disruptive behaviour was back in the news again recently but, no, not in connection with the House on the Hill, members are still on recess, and for another three weeks, which will make it nine weeks in total. No, this time the headlines were about students and our schools, and ironically these disturbing reports about student behaviour surfaced around the time Government, under yet another new Minister for Education, was unveiling plans to focus on teaching quality.

I am not certain that there is a connection. It must be hard to teach when faced with behavioural challenges that run deep and that are brought into the classroom. In the face of all the challenges teachers face on a daily basis, I think what many are looking for is the opportunity to actually teach, and for the support they need to make this possible.

But first I don’t want to be accused of over-stating the case here. Not all of our students are in fact problems. Today it is the extent and the nature of some of the behaviour (about which we read and see for ourselves on a regular basis) which is challenging. At least that has been my experience, albeit limited. But if you don’t believe me: talk to a teacher or spend a day in the classroom of one of our schools.

Secondly, I accept that there are also teachers who could be doing a better job, even in the present circumstances. But in my view their job isn’t easy.

Help however, must not only come from Government. It cannot. It has to also come in the first and every instance from parents or those family members or friends who are prepared to stand in as parents for our schoolchildren.

As recently noted by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times, this was not lost on the Secretary for Education in the United States, Arne Duncan, who made a point of making this very point in a recent major speech. It was his call to arms in the battle to raise educational standards and expectations for education in the US. He was reported to have questioned out loud whether the problem is not whether they have the smartest and best teachers in the world, or the strongest unions, but rather whether it was because parents and their children are simply not taking education as seriously as they should and putting in the necessary time and work required to succeed.

Sound familiar?

The US Secretary for Education didn’t stop there either. He also declared that:

* Doing something about underperformance means raising your voice and encouraging other parents to do the same.

* Parents must get more involved and in the right way, not the wrong way, only pitching up for sports events or concerts with video cameras; and

* Get involved with students’ work, the reading and the math, back up teachers, and go on to demand even more work not just from your children but their teachers.

* Better discipline in and around the home is also key.

A tall order? Sure. But worth the effort, considering what’s at stake: the future of our children and their chances of success in life. If parents lead the charge, pressure is brought to bear and pressure brings about accountability, and accountability better performance. That’s the theory anyhow.

While Government may not be able to do it all, it can signal direction. Here in Bermuda we have recently seen the appointment of a new Minister for Education, and for the umpteenth time you might say, 11th in 15 years, we are told: and so the portfolio acquires the reputation of the poisoned chalice that no one apparently wants. You might also wonder whether anyone cares. We should. Constant changes in leadership and then changes in direction are not a good thing.

In this recent case, the portfolio went to someone who had served as the Opposition shadow for a number of years under successive PLP Governments and on that score his appointment makes sense — even though a year was lost before the appointment. On the other hand, the over-riding reason for the change appears to have been the decision to shrink the size and cost of Cabinet. So now we have a Minister who is also responsible for Economic Development in Bermuda, an important enough job in Bermuda these days, you might think.

Sure, he has a Junior Minister to assist. But that’s not the same thing. We all know that there is only one Minister who can be in charge and who is meant to be in charge, and he is the person who advances positions, advocates decisions and champions the cause of education in Bermuda around the Cabinet table. Neither should it have escaped anyone’s attention that when the SAGE Commission recommended Cabinet be reduced to eight, Education remained as a stand-alone portfolio; in recognition perhaps of how they too, view its importance to the community and its future development, economic, social and educational.

Meanwhile, we continue to await Government’s plans on many of the SAGE Commission’s recommendations. The clock is ticking and we may get to see direction shortly. We are due a new Budget next month.

LAST LINES: Performance-related pay for teachers? Be careful what you wish for. Cabinet Ministers next — or first?

* Your views are welcomed on The Royal Gazette website or write jbarritt@ibl.bm.