St. Justin Martyr Catholic School Teacher in the Spotlight as Education Week Kicks Off
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A trip to Jamaica to teach turned into a learning experience for a Unionville educator. St. Justin Martyr Catholic School teacher Beth Comper’s experience with Students Crossing Borders is being highlighted during Education Week which runs from May 1-5.
Ms. Comper traveled to Kingston, Jamaica last summer with 34 students, teachers and volunteers to help in community centres that operate a home for disabled children, a hospice for children with HIV/AIDS and a hospice for teenaged mothers.
The teachers thought they would share their academic insights and pedagogical skills but found that without the economic and education resources that we take for granted, the children’s primary focus was on the need for food and attention. Seeing the joy in those children when that attention came through playing a game or reading a story was life altering.
Ontario Teachers’ Federation President Marilies Rettig will visit St. Justin Martyr on Wednesday, May 3 at 1:30 p.m. as part of a province-wide tour to celebrate publicly funded education.
“OTF is very proud of the outstanding contribution of teachers across Ontario,” said
Ms. Rettig. “Their dedication, innovation and love of learning have a tremendous effect on the experience our children have as they develop the skills, tolerance and understanding they’ll need in work and life.”
OTF is distributing, through newspapers across Ontario, a special supplement called Celebrating publicly funded education. Ms. Comper’s experience is among the stories highlighted in the publication.
The publication also looks at a teacher who takes students drag racing, new literacy programs and offers tips for parents.
Education Week started as an Ontario effort in 1930 to build public interest in education. During the Depression years a good education was no guarantee of employment. It was hoped that by highlighting a new secondary school curriculum and celebrating public education, the people of Ontario would once again take an interest in their schools.
“In partnership with parents, other educational workers and the wider community,” says
Ms. Rettig, “we have made, and can continue to make, tremendous strides in education.”
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