In reading an article on education by New York Times writer Adam Grant of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, I felt a need to take some of that material and relate it to what seems to be part of our proverbial problem.

With the controversy surrounding the Education Commissioner and the eventual appointment of another Education Commissioner, it is timely to incorporate some of the suggestions that Adam Grant has made. We collectively want our children to develop to their potential and to be good contributing citizens.

We need to look at these precious individuals not purely on their academic achievements because they are not all equal academically, but they can all be equal socially in terms of health, happiness and the passion to succeed, if there is a collective commitment by parents, educators and the general public.

I have paraphrased below some of the suggestions made by Adam Grant:-

A By praising effort rather than ability, our children will develop a stronger attitude toward work and being motivated.

B If we teach our children to care about others, they will become more compassionate and kind, thus enhancing a better relationship with others.

C By complimenting good behaviour, a child learns to repeat the behaviour.

D If parents, educators and society are kind, a child learns to be kind. They will internalise it as part of their behaviour and they will become a mirror image of our collective attitude.

E In teaching our children that it is more important that they be recognised for the moral and generous choices they make, their academic achievements will take its natural course.

We must design an education system to cater to diverse interests and abilities. Of all the social institutions, none is more important than education in driving social and economic upward mobility.

More than 20 years ago, in a speech to Parliament, I spoke about the problems of young black males, who were having difficulty adapting to a hyper-connected, rapidly changing world. Some people, at the time, criticised me quite harshly, only to come back after a few years to tell me that I was correct in making the statement.

The criticism deterred our focus on the plight of young black males and to-date there does not seem to be an applicable, practical process that is addressing this issue. One area in particular is a suitable development of an education system that will assist them in building confidence about themselves and a respect for others. As a consequence, I believe this denies some of them from realising their potential. The community and the Government should recognise that traditional models of education are no longer adequate. As a result, some black males feel diminished and unable to compete with the speed of change that is taking place globally. In my view, this is a contributing factor in some young people acting out negatively and finding themselves in serious trouble with the law. Even if they do not commit any offences, they find themselves falling further and further behind the rest of the population in terms of income, educational attainment and quality of life.

We must attempt to provide the early methods of child development that gives purpose to the value of learning by our young people. We must use the tools that are at our disposal to enhance the educational interest of our young students.

It is very important for children to develop a critical sense of identity and self-worth.

The constant threat of physical punishment and intimidation makes a child believe they are of less worth and ability. If you, therefore, shame a child, they will develop a deep sense of negative judgment, their self-worth is diminished and they lose interest in the desire to be the best they can be.

By praising their good acts and carefully, compassionately and informally helping them to understand the consequences of their actions, we will reinforce good behaviour and a desire to learn. This can be applied at a very early age or during family, social and educational activities.

If all of us do our part, children’s minds will be able to develop and they will mature as kind and caring young people who will aspire to continue their good habits in all respects, including education. This will allow parents, educators and society to consent to a goal in which all of us can equally participate.

I, therefore, humbly suggest that in choosing the next Education Commissioner, that some of these factors be kept in mind. Individual achievement of self-worth often makes for a kind and compassionate person whose deeds contribute to the community as a whole.