Christian educator gives successful 37 years to Hoolebury School and St Ann community
Jacinth Marie Clarke believes she was born to be a teacher although she says that if one of her former teachers had not died while she was still attending school her career path would have been different. She spent 37 years, six months and two days at Hoolebury All Age in Runaway Bay, St. Ann and although she retired two years ago, her love for the profession and children sees her going back to school sometimes to help. Only recently while the grade four class was preparing for the Grade Four Literacy and Numeracy exams, Ms. Clarke went back to the school not only to see how the group was doing, but also to assist in giving them mock examination. On Teachers’ Day last, Ms. Clarke also went to the school to treat the eight teachers on staff presenting each with a plaque and she also feted them with ice cream and cake. “You have parents who still call me and ask me to speak with their children,” she said. During her visit to the school on its last sports day, some parents openly expressed their desire for her to return to school because over the years she was seen as the ‘life of sports day’.
Ms Clarke recalls that shortly after she graduated from ‘Mr Buck School’ a private high school in Ocho Rios, children there were encouraged to go into training instead of seeking employment or becoming idle at home. She had developed a desire for teaching around age 15, although she said if one if her teachers hadn’t died, she would have become a secretary. After high school and a short stint at St. Ann’s Bay Primary as a pre-trained teacher, she enrolled at Moneague Teachers College and following her internship at Duncan’s All Age, she gained employment at Hoolebury, spending close to 38 years there in the classroom. “I have never been late and actually never been absent, I can only remember I have only been absent for two seven-days and it was two seven days of illness,” Ms Clarke said. She recall taking vacation only about four times. It is a journey and a job she has enjoyed immensely and she told the North Coast Times that she would dedicate another 37 plus years because it is her passion. Throughout her years she has had to deal with many situations, good and bad, however her winning personality has helped her to amicably resolve even the worst situations. Ms Clarke was very active in every aspect of school life and served various committees at school, including being secretary of the PTA for 16 consecutive years.Known as an all rounder, she taught many grades including 7 to 9 before the school was turned into a primary school about four years ago and she was placed in the grade four class. She was teacher of music, agriculture, P.E, 4-H leader, in charge of saving, discipline and the nutrition program. Parents not only had confidence in her at school but many trusted her to care for their children when the school went on excursions. “Sometimes if I am not going they were not sending the children,” she said.
Ms Clarke explained that she had some great years at the school, enjoyed excellent relationships with not only her colleagues at work but also many parents who grew to understand and appreciate her policies. “You had to be strict to deal with especially some of the younger parents,” she added. that she used various strategies to ensure her children learned and also to get parents involved in lessons taught. Music and drama were two of her main teaching tools. Ms Clarke is also very active in her community of Cox Heath in Runaway Bay and she spends a lot of time ensuring that it is well kept. She has taken on the painting of a wall at the entrance of the community as well as planning of flowers as her community projects. She explained that her painting of the wall with several murals is to help educate residents. She also treats children in the area every holiday and come September she will be offering after school lessons free of charge to children from the basic and primary school levels. Jacinth Clarke grew up in Cox Heath with her siblings, mother and grandmother and her desire is to see to the continued development and elevation of residents. She recalled growing up in a very friendly and clean environment in an era where the community was responsible for growing the children. She tells The Times that her mother Sybil Brown who is still alive worked tirelessly as a higgler to ensure all her children received good education and during their school years, she and siblings would walk away with all the awards during prize giving.
She grew up in the church, Salem Baptist where she is a member and wears many other hats including being an organist, Sunday school teacher, church secretary, Women’s Federation president, youth leader and chair of evangelism committee. At the parish level she has been treasurer of the St. Ann Baptist Association for over 30 years and secretary of the St. Ann Baptist Federation for more than 34 years. Ms Clarke has never been married neither does she have any children, however, she has been very instrumental in the upbringing of not only her siblings but countless number of other children at church, in her community and school. “I am free, single, disengaged and not available,” she joked. One of her sisters, Dr. Margaret Bailey described Ms. Clarke as the cornerstone in the family. “She has touched the lives of all her siblings as well as others in the community in positive ways. My sister was the first in the family to acquire college education and she ensured that all others in the family got tertiary level education and beyond. As a teacher, although retired, she is like a candle, burning herself out as she lights the way for others,” Dr. Bailey said. “Jacinth is one of the kindest and most selfless persons I have ever encountered. I am who I am today because of this selflessness. As a big sister and disciplinarian she assisted my mother in instilling good values in my early years and in fact she still continues to offer support and good guidance.”
