Mentor, teacher, role model, motivator… These are some of the words you may hear used to describe Mr. Radcliffe Gordon by his numerous students over the years. I, however, never had the chance to experience my father at work, in the classroom and as such will speak today about how his career impacted us as a family.
My father served in the classroom for close to 40 years. That’s quite a bit longer than I’ve been alive… His career started right here at the Keith All-Age School (as a pre-trained teacher). He then did his formal training at Moneague Teachers’ College and GC Foster College. He did his internship at Runaway Bay All-Age (one year), then taught at Ocho Rios Primary (eight years), moved on to Stewart Town All-Age (almost three years). After Stewart Town, he moved on to Eccleston All-Age where he served as principal, for almost 14 years, and his career came full circle when he returned to Keith All-Age (now Keith Primary and Infant) where he again served as principal until his retirement.
Now this is all good and wonderful for the students whose lives he impacted over the years in these various locales. But how did his service throughout the years affect his family? I want you to bear in mind now that with the exception of the times he served in Keith, none of the places he worked is really in close proximity to where we live. And if you happened to live in Keith in the 80s and 90s, and even the early 2000s you would understand that getting in and out of the community wasn’t really the easiest feat. For one, public transportation was scarce and unreliable, and even after some time when he upgraded to owning his own vehicle, the road conditions were always horrible. So commute was a problem. Remember also that cellular phones weren’t very popular until much later in his career, so when daddy left out early in the mornings we would have no way of getting to him or knowing whether he was ok or not until he returned home, sometimes at 7 or 8 in the evenings. (And this is just from my experience. It must have been worse for my mother and older brother in the earlier days when while working in Ocho Rios daddy would leave home on Monday and not return until Friday evening).
So the major negative impact on the family during my father’s working years was the inconvenience of not having as much time as we would have liked to spend with him.
He would leave home early, get back late and would be understandably tired after a long day of work and traveling. In all of that, though he somehow managed to make what little time we had with him count. All the important lessons and values were passed on, all the school functions attended, all reports collected, all family events and appointments met. Working together with mommy as a unit, they both somehow managed to make things flow easily and seamlessly (well at least that’s how it looked to us as the children). Now that I’m an adult I realize it could not have been half as easy as it looked, which goes further to show the amount of effort and dedication it took for him to balance both work and family.
On the flip side however, there were many positives that were garnered from watching my father work. For one, his work ethic was impeccable. On numerous occasions I can remember him going so much further than the extra mile to ensure that everything was in order for school: from managing the financials to ensuring that the welfare of the students and staff was taken care of.
I can remember sometimes waking up in the wee hours of the morning and seeing the lights on in the living room only to find daddy sitting over some school-related paperwork. Even though I probably didn’t know it at the time, this work ethic was one of the traits I would inherit (or learn) from my father. To be completely honest I’m still not sure whether it’s a good or a bad thing as almost every day some new task is added to my ever growing list of responsibilities at work.
Another thing I noticed about my father through the years is that he genuinely loved his job.
You know as with any job there will always be those times when you become stressed or frustrated. With him those down periods never lasted for very long, as shortly after complaining you would hear him planning the best way to get through to that one particular student who wasn’t grasping a concept; or how to get adequate funding for that event that was being planned at school. Another way I knew he found gratification in his job was the way he would beam with pride whenever he saw or heard one of his former students on radio or television.
As many of you present here today know the teaching profession is not an easy one. I myself taught for four months, and trust me when I tell you teaching is not for everybody, because it definitely wasn’t for me. It takes special people to teach. It is a calling, a calling my father responded to and did very well at.
…I want to on behalf of the family, immediate and extended, congratulate you on your years of dedicated service to the teaching profession sir, and wish you all the best as you officially transition into your retirement. Thank you.
By Kenroy Gordon (Son)
RADCLIFFE KNOX GORDON
RETIRED EDUCATOR
Nelson Mandela once said, “When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace.” Radcliffe Knox Gordon, you have made a remarkable impact on our education system and that is a duty that has been marked by your selfless giving not only to students far and wide, but to your community Keith, the communities of Ocho Rios, Runaway Bay, Stewart Town and Eccleston.
Your journey as an educator started in 1977 at the Keith All Age School where you served for two years as a classroom teacher. In 1979 you decided to pursue studies in Education at The Moneague Teacher’s College. After graduating from Moneague Teacher’s College with a Diploma in Primary Education, you served one year internship at The Runaway Bay All Age School. This started the journey to the many accomplished years you served in education. You have spent thirty-six (36) years leading students during your accomplished tenure as an educator. You have inspired souls with your precious legacy and you have taught values that will never retire.
You continued studies at GC Foster College, Mount Saint Vincent in Canada and the University of The West Indies (Mona Campus). This stage of building academically on your craft truly prepared you for all God had in store for you. Such training saw you serving in the following areas of education:
Classroom Teacher at:
- Keith All Age – 1977-1979 two (2) years
- Ocho Rios Primary – 1982-1990 eight (8) years
- Stewart Town All Age 1990-1993 two (2) years and eight (8) months
As Principal at:
- Eccleston All Age 1993-2006 thirteen (13) years and eight(8) months
- Keith All Age 2007-2016 nine (9) years
Your innate leadership qualities resonated within the wider educational and business communities and this saw you serving in capacities such as:
- President of the Ocho Rios District Association
- President of the Alexandria District Association
- Vice chairman of St. Ann Principal’s Association
- Parish representative for the T.I.P Friendly Society
- Member of the Jamaica Teacher’s Association General Council and the Credit and Supervisory Committees of T.I.P Friendly Society
You have served faithfully and diligently and God truly rewards faithfulness, as you were honoured with the Jamaica Teacher’s Association’s Golden Torch Award, when you had completed thirty- six (36) years in education.
The Keith Primary and Infant School is a good model of a well run institution. You have contributed beyond measure to its achievements. You planted many seeds of knowledge that will last a lifetime for the lives you touched…You used every opportunity to unveil the talents and skills from within the persons you served, yes served ..Under your leadership the Keith school accomplished much, including improvements to the building, creating modern rest rooms, and an additional two storeys at the front of the school. The creation of an Infant Department (through the guidance of The Ministry of Education), improvements to the kitchen and its equipment, covering of an assembly area and the building of a poultry farm.
Mr. Radcliffe Gordon, you were always resolute in your passion to create innovative ways for persons to realize their goals through academic pursuance. Your passion and drive for education manifested itself in the many lives you touched. You served not only in the field of education, but the wider community. Among other things as president of the Jamaica Agriculture Society branch in the Keith and other agriculture related organizations; president of the Citizen’s Association and The Keith Community Club and, in the church as moderator of the Trelawny Baptist Association. He now serves as deputy moderator of the Trelawny Baptist Association and deacon at The Keith Baptist Church
A great educator and disciplinarian are just a few words that described your tenure in education.
Today The Keith Primary and Infant School reflects and are very grateful for thirty- nine (39) years of sterling contribution to the great nation building institution called- EDUCATION. You were a great teacher and Principal who every student will remember and cherish forever.
Radcliffe Gordon, we salute you for the dedication and hard work, for being a great stalwart to this profession and giving your service with commitment and love.
Congratulations on making it over all the hurdles and reaching the wonderful time of life where you get to do whatever you want. You are not just retiring from your past position and role. You are retiring as a principal who inspired our souls and minds. You started at Keith All Age School and you ended with us. As it was in the beginning so shall it be in the end.
Walk Good and God’s richest blessings be yours.
Presented to Mr. Radcliffe Knox Gordon on September 21, 2017.
Keith community says thanks to Radcliffe Gordon and Pauline Austin
The Baptist Church at Keith District, St Ann was filled to capacity on Thursday, September 21, for an appreciation ceremony in honour of two educators who had served that school for a number of years. The two have now retired and the community of Keith, led by the board at the Keith Primary and Infant School, wanted to honour their work and service.
They are former teacher and principal Radcliffe Gordon and teacher Pauline Austin.
The appreciation ceremony took place next door to the school in the community of the same name, some 20 minutes from Discovery Bay.
There were well presented cultural items from groups at the school as well as words of appreciation from individuals at the event attended also by leading citizens from outside of the community. Mr Gordon and Ms Austin were presented with citations that were read to the gathering. The citations spoke of the careers of the two individuals and highlighted their work at the school, influencing lives of hundreds who have gone on to serve the wider Jamaican community and overseas.
Guest speaker, former principal of Ocho Rios High and Marcus Garvey Technical High schools, Monica McIntyre gave a thoughtful, humour-laced presentation urging the two new retirees to look after themselves, rest and be active. She said educators had a duty that some did not do well but it was clear that Mr Henry and Ms Austin had served well.
The welcome was done by Roshell Henry, principal and prayer by pastor Dorothy Jackson of the Keith Emmanuel Apostolic Church. Chairman of the event was DJ Campbell.
Board chairman Joy Faye brought greetings and a greeting was sent from the New York Chapter of the Keith Past Students Association. Kenroy Gordon gave a personal recollection of the work of his father and how Mr Gordon kept the family together while making big sacrifices in building his career. (See tribute) Teacher Yonique Morrison gave the vote of thanks after Radcliffe Gordon replied on behalf of himself and Ms Austin.
