Friday, March 29, 2024

Parkinson masters its craft

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THE EXCELLENCE FROM within the walls of Parkinson Memorial Secondary School was on display in the school hall yesterday as events to mark the school’s 53rd anniversary continued.
Several displays were mounted with works of present and past students who were all taught by head of the art department Barbara Bovell.
Noting that they should not allow negatives that impact every school to define Parkinson, principal Jeff Broomes said there were a lot of good things going on at the school, and especially so in the art department.
“We have art and craft and pottery and what have you. We also have woods and stuff, we have some jewellery. The English Department is also putting together some displays of fine work from the children.
“This is really work, not only from our current students, but from our immediate past alumni,” he said, adding that the work of the late Winston Jordan, who was an “outstanding alumni”, was also on display.
There was a steady stream of students in the hall throughout the day as every class, accompanied by the teacher, had an opportunity to view the different pieces of art work.
“We would like to think that this display of excellence will just be another way of motivating them [the students] to strive and push and achieve at this level,” Broomes said at the informal opening of the display.
Broomes added arts and craft was just one of the many subject areas introduced as part of the restructured curriculum to focus particularly of the skills area that can push the economy.
Students also have the option of taking classes in carpentry, plumbing, cosmetology, food preparation, sound engineering and songwriting.
Bovell added that students are encouraged to blend their career interests in art to either create pieces or products.
“We can no longer expect to focus on the traditional teacher, doctor, lawyer professions. There are alternatives that in many cases make more money, and may apply to our children’s’ skill set even more so are things that we are looking to emphasise, without at any time trying to compromise or sideline the  core subjects . . . That all must have for proper qualifications,” Broomes stated. In an interview with the MIDWEEK NATION after the launch, Broomes said he came to the school and found that in excess of 60 per cent of the students were leaving school without certificates and he tried to address it by varying the curriculum.

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