Dozlin Geddes says farewell to Hamilton Mountain Basic School
Dozlin Geddes has had a love affair with the classroom and teaching, for 44 years, but she will tell you that it started long before that, back when she was only 16-years-old and decided to start a basic school of her own. “When I was a little girl I used to pay with dolls and my favorite hobby used to be sewing and when I grow up I said I will be a dressmaker, but somehow by age 16 that switched, and this love for little kids just pop in. I love children, children and flowers, they are my favorite.” She has had a very long journey in the classroom at the early childhood level, dating back to 1968 months after she graduated from the then Oracabessa All Age School and was unemployed she decided to start a school of her own. Mrs Geddes told the North Coast Times that she started her basic school at the New Testament church with five children, earning ‘five shillings’ weekly. Her increasing school population attracted even more children when foundation educator, Evelyn Duncan died. This prompted her to seek a new location and in 1970 she relocated to the community center which was earlier destroyed by a hurricane. Classes were held under a tarpaulin, at what is now called Hamilton Mountain Basic School, grew out of that as an institution of the ministry of education early childhood commission. “The experience differs, sweet-bitter, good- bad, up-down, sometimes without money, money is the least. In this early childhood system, money comes last, but the commitment that you make to the children and God that you are going to stay through sunshine or rain, that drives me and keep me going all these years,” she explained. She shared an experience which happened in the 1990’s after 25 years of service and her taking three months leave because of an illness, but which resulted in the ministry withdrawing the measly $86 monthly stipend which she would normally received for seven months.
MEASLY SUM
“The government withdrew the subsidy of $86 dollars and I worked for another seven months straight without a dime. I didn’t stop from my workshop, we usually have fortnight workshop or seminars in Highgate or Port Maria, I never stopped, I kept going to workshops, just the same, I never stopped from school. I continued my job just as if I was getting paid, just because of the commitment to the children.” That same love and commitment she explained also cost her marriage as her husband walked out in 1989 leaving her with four young children. She said he claimed that she was too committed to school and church. “That didn’t deter me one bit, it made me stronger. When he left my son was nine, it made me stronger and gave me more time to study,” she said. Mrs Geddes added that her son, the last of her four children is now a pastor and her three daughters are living successful lives in Canada and the US.
HARD TIMES
Aunty Pal, as she is popularly known in the community, grew up in very humble beginnings in Hamilton Mountain and when her father died when she was age 12, she told The Times that her mother could not afford to send her to another institution after all age school. As a result, she had to work and study on her own. Aunty Pal’s building of the Hamilton Mountain Basic School has not been an easy journey either. When Aunty Pal relocated to the site donated by educator Evelyn Duncan, there were only four walls. Hurricane had damaged the structure used as the community center and she along with parents would frequently labour with tarpaulin to make the environment a little more comfortable for students and teachers. It meant she and others were exposed to the elements and this affected their health. She wrote letters to MPs and businesses but no help came. Then the breakthrough came after, with the encouragement of the school’s education officer, she wrote to the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The present structure came with the help of JSIF which approved the proposal but not before an incident in the community when idle young men chased away a JSIF team. The structure was erected by JSIF in 2004 and it also furnished the institution. The then MP Terry Gillette also donated $250,000 towards the project. Mrs Geddes is also grateful for help from Couples Sans Souci that adopted the school since 2005. “We are just blessed. I tell you Couples San Souci is a tower of strength, they make sure that we have everything, first thing they did was to fence the property, they feed us like a baby, everything that the school wants the hotel provides.” That’s from books and supplies to repairing the structure. Aunty Pal’s roller coaster journey in the classroom is nearing an end and come July 4th she will finally throw in the towel, and declare an end of play to the only place she has worked for 44 long years. She said for many years she has thought about retiring but the love she has for children wouldn’t allow her to walk away. “My daughters say ‘Mommy we born come see you teaching and working. You work too hard, you need to rest now’ and I keep promising them next year, but this year they have said no more promises, so I will be joining them in Canada,” she said. It’s a hard slog even to get fees for the children attending.
“What I do is seek sponsorship so I will approach people and ask them to sponsor a needy child and pay the school fee for a term or two terms and that is how I have been able to keep the school open,” she said she hopes the school will continue to thrive and turn out successful and well rounded children.
