Lester Vaughan farewell for principal
FORMER PRINCIPAL of Lester Vaughan, Alvin Cater, was given a warm farewell by students and staff at a retirement function. (Picture by Cherie Pitt)
Tue, June 22, 2010 - 12:00 AM
“POVERTY IS not a stumbling block to success!”
This was the heartfelt message which former principal of the Lester Vaughan School, Alvin Carter, left with the students as they bid him farewell at a retirement function at the school yesterday.
Students sang, danced and rendered poetry, and many glowing speeches were made about him and his lengthy contribution to the educational system. But at the end of it all, a humbled Carter told the audience that the road to his success was not an easy one.
“I see myself as a very simple, humble country boy, and it has not always been this good . . . The road here was a very long and difficult one.”
Carter went on to tell the students of his life growing up among seven siblings. He said they were all raised by his mother.
“When I went to primary school I was fortunate to wear shoes for two days in my entire primary school life . . . What stands out in my mind was when water came to our house for the first time and when electricity came to our house for the first time and when I wore my first long pants. I hope that as I share this with you that you would be encouraged to do some reflection and introspection.”
He added: “I came from a very humble and poor background, but I was able to make it this far and contribute 37 years to the teaching service. One lesson to take with you is that poverty is not a stumbling block, it is not an excuse for not achieving.”
Carter started his teaching career at St Leonard’s Boys’. He then went on to Princess Margaret School, Deighton Griffith and Louis Lynch before taking up the position at Lester Vaughan in 2007. (MB)
- Editor's Choice
- Most Read Stories Today
- Eyes ahead!
- MPs split on CADRES poll
- Sad situation
- Belgrave named Governor General
- Hands off!
- Fathers turn out in numbers
- Happy birthday fertility babes
Recent Comments
- D. Stoute commented on Wrong!
- Pan Wallie commented on Think twice!
- wayne husbands commented on Payne: Scary comments by Sir Roy
- dirty okra commented on Not our money
- Bim Bum commented on ALL AH WE IS ONE: The divide
_medium-135x135.jpg)
Share your thoughts
Please sign in or register to post your comments.
Page 1 of 1 pages
As a son of St.Philip and a product of St. Martins School I can vouch for the statements made by Mr Carter. He indeed came from humble beginnings like most of us at that time, but he did not allow that to stand in his way, and he never allowed his success to change him either, he remained very humble, very approachable and a friend to many in and out of St. Martin’s Church and the surrounding areas. I take this opportunity to wish him a long and happy retirement. Well done thou good and faithful servant.
- 0
- 0
Comment LinkI’m pretty sure his name is Alvin Cater.. but hey you guys are human to. Well congratz to Mr Cater, you helped set the based for me while i was at Louis Lynch, disagreed with you a lot out of ignorance, but the older i got, the more in tuned we have become . best wishes
- 0
- 0
Comment LinkEnjoy your retirement Mr. Archer - you deserve it after all these years of teaching. Love to hear of the happenings at my former school, St. Leonard’s and hope to visit one day on vacation. Always remember where you came from so that you can know where you are going. Listen and learn. Knowledge is power. Good luck!
- 0
- 0
Comment LinkMr.carter, I hope you enjoy your retirement. May God grant you many years of good health.We thank you for your 37 years of service to our children. Mr.Carter many of us have the same story as you.We were raised by our mother’s and the extended family. Many of us were DIRT POOR, but we had PRIDE and aspirations. We understand that education was the key to our success. Many a mornings we went to school without a crumb to eat, many a days we did not have lunch.Despite all of this we turned out to be good productive law abiding citizens. No one had to find excuses for us.
- 0
- 0
Comment LinkMr.carter most of us your age can relate to everything you been through, Just want to wish you God’s blessing and thanks for the 37 years you gave to our children and grandchildren.
- 0
- 0
Comment LinkPage 1 of 1 pages