Dear Editor,
Now that I’ve been well rested from the Christmas Holidays, I think I am in the right frame of mind to write.
I would like to begin with something that is hot in the news. I am talking about the issue of name-calling, a topic that is certainly not new to us; however, in the present circumstances, the gravity of it calls for some degree of investigation and a clear-cut explanation. The aim of our investigation is to arrive at a place where our people can eventually have some peace and quiet.
For starters, I must say the issue of name-calling is endemic to the profession. As teachers, we get these cases every single working day. The calling of names is a teacher’s everyday cleanup campaign. We encounter such instances on a daily basis; however, the way we deal with them is another matter. In our school system, we try to deal with this subject in a clean, clear and comprehensive manner, taking keen care not to offend victim or offender.
In light of the above, I shall address the latest Guyana issue of name-calling. It all has to do with the naming of persons as trench crappos and jagabats. These are derogatory and downright dehumanising terms to describe another human being, and this matter is taking up an awful lot of time and attention. It has reached the point where a lawsuit has been filed to address the issue.
Calling people names, like I said, is nothing new, and the keywords in this name-calling business have to be examined carefully; that is, referring to the person as behaving “like a/an” offensive person or thing, as against the use of the term “you are” that derogatory person or thing. Whichever side of the spectrum you look at, there certainly must be some clarity brought to bear in these statements.
A teacher was once cautioned by the educational directorate when she referred to a student as behaving like a “Bommez” (a term used here in St Lucia to describe a prostitute). The teacher obviously, after observing the female student’s behaviour, concluded that she was acting like a “Bommez”. The student, who was quite knowledgeable of her rights, approached the Ministry, which later cautioned the teacher to use appropriate language when speaking to, or describing, others in the future. The problem was quickly solved.
Then it behooves us to consider whether the “trench crappo, jagabatt” comment is appropriate. In my book, that comment is highly offensive, and the individual is totally out of place, but Guyana is a strange place, with some strange people hanging around.
But, as my teacher would say to me, you are not like them so you cannot be like them, neither should you burden yourself with their actions.
Come on fella, have a clean-up of your actions. The point I am making is that all the parties involved ought to be respectful of each other when making derogatory comments. We must be respectful of each other even when we disagree with the other person’s point of view.
Respectfully,
Neil Adams
