Views for and against, along with middle of the road opinions were expressed last night when educators got together to share thought on ‘The relevance of a single sex school in the 21st century’ as part of the Springer Memorial School’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
The discussion was moderated by principal of Graydon Sealy Secondary School, Matthew Farley, and panelists were former Springer student and head girl, Bibi Aziz; UWI lecturer, Dr Ian Marshall; French and music teacher, Pastor Glenworth Joseph; former Coleridge Parry Principal, Senator Alwyn Adams; and head of Harrison’s College English department and former Springer student, Dr Marva Lashley.
Persons attending the panel discussion. At left is Andrea Holder, who led the evening’s event in prayer.
Dr Lashley’s opening remarks appeared to forebear what emerged as the sentiments of panelists and members of the audience, comprising mainly teachers from a number of Barbados schools, and former Springer students, some of whom are now teaching at that institution.
“I believe that we need a lot of different changes. So I believe that we need single sex schools, and I believe that we need co-education schools. I believe we need schools for children with disabilities and for children without,” she said.