Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2005/-1/135/

"Don't Give Up, Stick With It"

Teachers in Anguilla were told at the beginning of a week of activities that their task was a heavy burden, but they should not give up.

Teachers At SDA Church Service

The admonition came from Pastor Oville Fleming at the Mount Fortune Seventh-day Adventist Church where many teachers attended the divine service at the start of Teachers Week 2004 on October 2.

The Pastor, who entitled his sermon “Is the task too hard?” took his text from the book of Jeremiah where the prophet, discouraged by the cares around him, felt like running away from his calling. “As teachers, you have a serious responsibility for the future of this nation,” he told them. “In your hands are individuals who have the potential to be leaders and professionals and you are responsible for bringing them up and giving them proper direction.”

Another section of teachers

He spoke of the difficulties which confront teachers in the classrooms and their hard work in helping to mold the lives of the children. “You will get discouraged. You may want to quit, but don’t give up. The task that rests on your shoulder is a great responsibility, but you owe it to everyone to remain faithful,” he advised the teachers from the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School and the Primary Schools.

He also appealed to parents to assist the teachers in nurturing the children, noting that their early years were the most critical times when they needed direction and care.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the Anguilla Teachers’ Union, LeRoy Hill, issued a statement calling on members of the teaching profession, the government, parents and community-minded organisations to give teachers a chance “to make miracles happen.”

He noted that in Anguilla and other Caribbean territories many teachers were nearing retirement age and there was a need to attract young people to the profession by offering adequate salaries and conditions of work.

L-R: Pastor Fleming, Todville Harrigan, Avenella Gumbs and Foster Rogers

The activities for Teachers’ Week included radio talks, a Teacher Appreciation Day, a sunset cruise, a concert and an education conference.

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