I am a 1977 alumnus of the San Fernando Central Secondary School, formerly known as Government Secondary and lovingly known to all as Modsec. I share the consternation of many alumni of that venerable institution occasioned by comments made by the principal, Faria Ali, at the school's graduation.Your newspaper reported that Ali released what some might legitimately call a diatribe, lamenting how bad the school was, how bad the students are and how badly her experiences as a principal have run.The principal has done a great disservice to herself, her profession, her school, her staff colleagues, her students, her students' parents and the alumni of Modsec everywhere.In recent times, the school has had some disciplinary problems, no doubt reflective of the breakdown of discipline in the entire society. But surely, it is no reason to declare the whole school bad, when students from this said school have led in science competitions, the arts, national academics and sports.
It is commonplace to consider alumni as extensions of such academic institutions. Modsec alumni have distinguished themselves everywhere, at home and abroad. Countless people, over the half-century history of this school, have worked for a wonderful legacy that this principal must now recognise that she has, and then handle as a sacred trust. She must admit that this was an unfortunate beginning, and seek, with dispatch, to rectify it, if indeed it can be rectified.Can she, after all this, embrace her role as leader of an institution with great history and great potential, with the stewardship responsibility to make it better, and leave it in better shape than she found it? Can she, after all this, inspire her students and staff, challenge them, respect them, love them, be a partner with them and identify with them as her own personal concern?Is it too late for her to dump the baggage and complaints and disappointments from previous engagements as she comes to this wonderful opportunity that Modsec presents? Can she re-engage her colleagues' and students' trust?
Rev Dr Michael Friday
Bellevue, Nebraska