Chairman's Charge to Long Service Awardees

Distinguished JFLL Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Shakes and his staff, Parish Managers, Teachers, ladies and gentlemen, the main purpose of this function this afternoon is to honour several of those persons who have served JFLL with unwavering commitment for years.

A number of Directors of the Board of JFLL and I during a tour of a number of JFLL centres, a couple months ago, were immensely impressed with the commitment and dedication of the staff of the centres.

 

As we visited and interacted with both students and staff. We soon discovered that not only was the task of the-JFLL teachers being carried out in very trying and difficult circumstances but several of the staff members had served JFLL with unwavering commitment for several years.
 

Therefore, at the very next board meeting subsequent to the visit, in question, three important initiatives were decided on and Mr. Shakes was mandated to ensure that these ideas were implemented post haste.

 

AMONG THE INITIATIVES ARE:

• There should be the installation of electric fans in all centres beginning with the Corporate Area.
• An Awards Ceremony is to be organized to indicate the Board of Director’s appreciation of the service of JFLL teachers in particular.
• An effective Training Programme for all JFLL teachers to be brought on stream, this of course must not be confused with traditional workshops and seminars.

 

 

 
Rather an intenseive,relevant upgrading training programme is to be implemented as soon as the proposal for the training, in question, is approved by the board.

The rationale behind this Teacher Training Programmes is three pronged.

• The quality of all JFLL teachers must be upgraded to an acceptable level so that all teachers are sufficiently equipped  to master the JFLL education –relevant programme.
• Subsequent to successful completion of the teacher upgrading exercise, a review of teacher’s salaries will be undertaken aimed at improving the remuneration package of our teachers.
• Regardless of  how competent any JFLL teacher may believe that he or she is, currently, times have changed, and the realities of a globalized world demand a new breed of teachers adequately armed with the relevant skills, knowledge and methodologies so that an effective job can be done.

In many instances,the slight edge that one person has over the other is having the right attitude.

Consider the fact that coaches understand the importance of their teams possessing the right attitude before facing a tough opponent.

Surgeons prefer their patients being mentally prepared –and having the correct attitude for surgery.

Jobseekers ought to know that their prospective employer is looking not only at certification and the like-but to employees having the right attitude.

And if you are so far unsure of the meaning of “right attitude” listen to this little story.

STORY OF TWO SALESMEN

The story is told of two shoe salesmen who were sent to an island to sell shoes.

Salesman number (1) upon his arrival to the island was totally shocked that no one on the Island wore shoes. Right away, he sent a telegram to his head office and this is what it read: Will return home tomorrow, No one here wear shoes.

Salesman number two upon discovering that no one on the island wore shoes, became absolutely thrilled and excited at the prospects which this held for him as a salesman. Therefore, the second salesman’s communication to the head office read: Please send me 10,000 pairs of shoes, everyone here needs them.

You see, while Salesman number one saw a difficulty, being presented by a no shoe wearing population, Salesman number two saw an opportunity to sell the advantages of shoe wearing.

For example:
The lesson here is that every difficulty has an opportunity and every opportunity has a difficulty.

I remind you that, when confronted with a difficult situation, it is the right attitude which will help you to make the best of such situations.

JFLL members of staff I urge each of you to cultivate and display the right attitude always despite the circumstances in which you may find yourselves. Bear in mind that kites rise against and not with the wind. As future teachers or assistant teachers you will, no doubt, encounter adverse situations-in the institutions in which you will work. But you must allow such situations to be to you what the wind is to the kite. I repeat – you will, no doubt, come upon trying and difficult times but use them to push you tobe effective and successful.

Remember that:

• Robinson Crusoe was written in prison
• John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress in the Beckford  jail
• Luther translated the Bible while confined in the castle of Wartburg.

Sir Walter Raleigh wrote the history of the world while doing a 13 year imprisonment. Beethoven was almost totally deaf and burdened with sorrow when he produced his greatest work.

It was having the correct attitude which facilitated their success despite their challenges. So ladies and gentlemen, as you depart this Award Ceremony to continue your work as educators, I wish to remind you that with the right attitude- you will be a success. Having the right attitude to those that lead or supervise you-to your students, their parents, the right attitude to the challenges that will emerge, the right attitude to one and all in your work environment, the right attitude to every situation that may arise and the right attitude to yourself will be the force behind your success.

 

If someone tries to saddle you with an “it cannot be done” just remember what the poet Edgar A.Guest wrote: and I quote. Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,

But he with a chuckle replied: That maybe it couldn’t, but he would be one who wouldn’t say no, till he tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin on his face, if he worried, he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn’t be done, and he – did – it! Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that; At least no one ever has done it;’’ But he took off his coat and took off his hat and the first thing he knew he’d begun it. With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, without any doubting or quiddit, that couldn’t be done, and – he –did –it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure; there are thousands to point out to you, one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle right in with a bit of grin, then take off your coat and go to it; just start to sing as you tackle the thing that “cannot be done,” and you – will- do it!

 

Thank you.