I have observed that a wide cross section of the student population, even those who do well in school, do not read the newspaper, nor do they show any interest in local programming in the media.
As a result of this malpractice, they are far less aware than they should be firstly, about their island and by extension about their country and nation. Awareness of ones environment is the principal thing when one thinks about it.
The individual who is aware is able to grab opportunities when they become available. He is able to play an integral part in passing on accurate information wherever he travels, based on what he is aware of, and what better age to be such an effective agent of positive change than when people are young, say during those school years.
The environmentally aware person can represent his homeland effectively in any kind of situation. Such an individual could really become everything to everybody he meets: knowing the laws, the norms, the mores, the values and attitudes of his people, the culture and sub-cultures, the sites, the sounds, the people of which he is a part.
I am sure that over the years, there may have been programs in the media geared at inspiring the younger generation, and I am sure they had their merit; however, those programs might have dealt with general knowledge about things which were not necessarily totally Bahamian in context and focus, and so it is my belief that a new program with one hundred percent Bahamian focus be produced and maintained in the media.
It is my belief that such a program, rightly produced, would go a far way in enhancing and actually improving the academic performance of the Bahamian student.
It is my belief also that it should be spearheaded by teachers and that these teachers are not to expect any compensation beyond verbal gratitude for their contributions.
Yes the producing and launching of such a program will require that the teachers involved, spend additional time, outside of the normal school hours creating this program. I believe that it can be done by incorporating the assistance of the various media houses which I have observed, are already doing a great job of producing interesting local programs.
I do have Cable Television at home but it does not stop me from checking out what is being broadcast on the local channels, and when I started this practice I discovered that there is indeed a wealth of information being dispensed daily.
Being a teacher I felt saddened by the reality that so much is available yet not being sought after by those it is really produced for, so I got to thinking, if only a link could be created by which such information could be seen by the young within this island nation as being beneficial to them.
I know they watch Cable T.V. every day and night. How can they be made to appreciate local programming as they do Cable T.V?
I think that the High Schools across Grand Bahama could start a program of youth enlightenment. It could be dubbed, YOUTH T.V. I see how this could be accomplished by creating tests based on local programming on television and radio.
The students would be expected to listen to and watch local program every evening after school up to at least 8:00 p.m. The teachers involved would also watch and listen to the local programs so that they would be able to set appropriate questions.
These tests would be given once every month throughout the school year. The students would meet at their schools. Each school would keep score for the term and at the end of the term, there could be a play off where the schools face-off retroactively to see who will be the champion for that term.
At times, on occasions the schools could actually post information in the media which students are expected to see and be aware of, so that they can answer questions in the tests whenever they are run. And so all the media sources would be involved and thereby the student population island wide would be uplifted and the country on a whole. Of course some incentive scheme would be attached through which winning schools and individuals would be given awards, gifts, tokens and such the like from time to time.
Remember, an educated work force produces much more than an uneducated on, and it is students who will leave school and join the workforce so there is no down side to this idea.
Lets say one fixed evening between 4:00 and 5:00 each week, the students taking part would meet in their school gym or wherever they decide on, to do their tests. The tests would be based on programs from the previous week, up to the day before. It is expected that the question would be asked, ‘How exactly can such an idea be launched?’
The English Departments in each school would start the process by introducing the idea to the student population at assembly one morning, after synchronizing with each other prior to the introduction.
The teachers also would follow up local programming for one week and set some questions, say 30 in all, answerable in the hour prescribed, then ask students to sign up on prepared forms to indicate their interest in taking part in the program. Determine how many students could be accommodated and from which grade level(s). Make newspapers available on the campuses to encourage more reading for preparation etc., Select a team of teachers to be in charge of the continuous setting of tests.
Like I said before, the aim of the program is to increase students’ knowledge of the region in which they live by paying attention to local programming, and thereby enlighten themselves and make themselves more aware of their Bahamian environment.
Being aware is really being powerful. Being aware is being intelligent. Being aware is being wise.
I am etc.,
Emanuel D. Shield
