Old Scholars News

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25th Anniversary Celebrations

The "Past Vs Present" Cricket Match was held on Wednesday June 30th, and after some wonderful stroke-play, the Past Students emerged winners by a whopping 4 or 5 runs...... I was not there but it seems to me like the old scholars "got off by the skin of their teeth" this time around. So don't you go thinking that the students "soft" and FOSA will breeze through as usual.

Benny tried his best to encourage the girls but they were absent again this year. However, from all reports, it was an enjoyable afternoon and it's a pity more people were not there to help the cheering squad.

The Anniversary celebrations were held in the month of July and started with a Scavenger Hunt on the 18th of July.

The hunt started from Foundation School at 8 AM and ended at Sandy Beach.

On Wednesday the 21st there was a panel discussion held at the Barbados Community College. The discussion was entitled “Lasses in Classes”. Panelists were Miss Evelyn Branker, Mr. Robert Morris, and Miss June Alleyne. The moderator was Win Callender.

Miss Evelyn Branker was first to make her contribution to the debate. She referred to an article in the Readers Digest which highlighted a survey done in Montreal which, based on available information suggested that children in single sex schools performed better than children in mixed schools. There was also a reduction in the level of absenteeism observed in the schools under study.

She said that in single sex schools boys were free to explore subjects such as Home Economics and Needlework without feeling embarrassed or less masculine as these feelings mostly came about when girls were present.

She also stated that boys develop at different rates from girls. Hence she said that in a single sex school for boys more physical activities can be allowed.

There was an unfairness in the delivery of discipline in the early days after the school was amalgamated. The boys received a detention as well as flogging, while girls received only a detention.

While teaching classes, she said that boys were seldom offended if the teacher made fun of any of the students. In a classroom which has girls and boys this could not be done. Firstly the mere presence of the girls would intensify the words of the teacher, and secondly, the same statement directed at a girl may have a more damaging effect.

Boys do not read as much as girls she continued. Hence this would cause a disparity in the marks received on assignment that require a great deal of reading. Although the boys can do very well in a more physical assignment.

Following Miss Branker was Miss Alleyne who, unlike Miss Branker taught at Foundation Girls School.

Miss Alleyne said that she found that when the school was amalgamated the boys were focusing on the girls in class, while the girls were looking out the window. This supports other statements made by other people which say that the co-ed school caused the boys to become very distracted by having such feminine beauty so close to them.

She found that boys fought to get over a point and express themselves to one another. While a girl’s fight was always a serious matter.

She expresssed the view that we need to teach the children how to interact and get along with each other.

She also made the remark that there were some teachers of male students who, when the girls joined classes started to go easier on the boys when it came to punishment. Contrary to what Miss Branker said earlier, Miss Alleyne said that girls too objected to the prolonged speeches during detention.

Mr. Robert Morris, our next panelist was a student first at the boys school and then returned as a teacher.

He is of the opinion that Co-education is not an issue. Some of the problems we have in schools are problems with students attitude and nothing to do with gender. He said that there are boys would do not fight and there are some girls who are very violent.

He further said that in secondary schools we need to teach the children how to deal with their hormones and control them rather than separate them. Teachers must use strategies to teach both boys and girls. Once they focus on Education, there should be no problem.

Mr. Morris went on to say that a part of the problem was the area in which people lived. This point was reinforced by the moderator who said that some schools receive mostly students from a certain class and therefore had certain behavior patterns.

Some schools which accumulate children from one class of society tend to have one atmosphere in and around it, while the school which attracts children from another class of society have a different atmosphere. Also in support of this theory was a contribution from an officer in the Ministry of Education who said that it was found that there was a connection between parental occupation, social background, standard of school attended and the academic performance of students.

In a contribution from former Principal of Foundation School Major Hugh Barker, it was revealed that Boys from one secondary school told an interviewer that they were highly affected by the presence of girls, while the girls at the same school said they were not affected by the presence of boys. This backs up the point made by Miss June Alleyne in her contribution.

At the conclusion of the discussion Mr. Morris said that more data was needed in order to come to a conclusion on the matter. He then made the recommendation that we should set up a system where students are tracked from Primary School into Secondary and then into College/University to see whether there is difference in the child’s performance or attitude based on the school environment in which he/she finds his/herself. He further stated that we were not made to be separate. Change is necessary in any society and co-ed schools is a part of that change.

The Reunion was held on Saturday July 24th at the School. The reunion staged this year by the Old Scholars was different in many ways. Rather than having only the hall and foyer to interact. This year they were presented with the entire courtyard, foyer and the hall for jamming. This year also there was a professional photographer to take year group photos or singles. There was also the fun photos capability complements of the junior uniforms on hand. But the real crowd puller was a slide show of over 150 pictures of the school and past students in various stages of life.

I must say that I am sorry more of you did not attend. Some of the old scholars there had not seen friends in 16, and some 20 years. There was even a person I spoke to who had not seen one of his friends in 30 years.

Later in the night I met a very nice, and beautiful lady who had not seen her friends in 20 years and was waiting a long time for them to come. When I met her she was trying to decide whether to leave or wait any longer. I watched and she was there alone for another 30 minutes or so. Sadly, when I passed back that way again she was not there anymore, and I could not find her any where.

I hope never to put my friends in that position.

Flash Back

This year the Foundation Old Scholars Association celebrates 25 years in existence. At this time we take a moment to look back at some of the memorable events of our time.

The first significant event I would say would be the writing of a new school song for the amalgamated school. This took place through a project spear-headed by FOSA with the assistance of the BOM at the school the Principal and other interested bodies. The winner, Mr. Charles Cooke wrote the song “The light in our Eyes” which was introduced in 1991.

The next significant milestone would of course have to be the 175th Anniversary of Foundation School. This was celebrated with a gala dinner at the Sam Lord’s Castle on the 21st of July, 1984.

On this occasion over 30 persons who had served Foundation for 15 or more years were honoured. Present at the dinner was Mr. John Bright Deane, at that time the oldest living old scholar. He was 92 years old.

Also in 1984, the Association repaved the lawn tennis courts enabling students to enjoy tennis for a number of years. As you can see, it is in need of repaving once again.

During 1986 some of the members of the Barbados association went to visit their UK counterparts. During those four glorious weeks spent in the UK, many lasting friendships were formed and old ones were much strengthened.

Two awards dinners were held during 1988 and 1989. There was “An evening with the Joneses” held at the Hilton International on November 5, 1988. The other was held in honour of Mrs. Beryl Sealy at the Sam Lord’s Castle on November 18th, 1989.

We come next to the 1990 Reunion, described by some as our greatest reunion ever. What made this reunion significant was not only the amount of persons that attended, but the fact that the UK, Canadian and New York Alumni were fully involved.

On the cards that year was a Welcome reception for the overseas alumni groups on August 2nd. On August 4th was a Reunion fete at Balls Plantation House. On the 5th there was a Church Service at the parish church. On the 8th there was a Symposium at the School entitled “Towards the 21st Century”. On the 9th, things cooled down for fun and games. There was cricket, netball and volleyball among others. The grand finale was the Awards Dinner held at the Heywoods Resort on August 11th 1990.

On March 1st 1997, the Old Scholars staged a variety concert at Dover Convention Centre. Performances at the concert included The Foundation Dancers, Andrea Gollop, Cicely Spencer Cross, Alison Hinds, Lana Kirton and Ricky Aimey & Friends.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Venerable Eric Lynch and Fr. Geoffrey Gibson on celebrating 20 years in the Ministry. Geoffrey celebrated with a service at St. Leonard's Church on Thursday, 22nd July. Also congratulations are in order for the Rev. Clifton Morris who is now a full fledged minister in the Methodist Church. He is stationed in Jamaica and will be taking duties in Montego Bay from September. Still in the church. Congratulations goes out to Mrs. Beverley Sealy who is celebrating 10 years as a priest in the Anglican church.

Congratulations to Glenville Lovell on the release of yet another novel. This one is entitled “Love and Death in Brooklyn”. Glenville Lovell is a Foundation Old Scholar who is an author living in New York.

News Archives Two full years of news waiting for you.

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