Fayola K J Fraser
Productive members of society versus delinquents. A crucial role of fatherhood in all its senses is to reduce the number of young men inclined toward the latter and increase those inclined toward the former.
William J Carter II, the father of four sons, father to many more as an educator for 35 years, and the former principal of the well-loved institution of Queen’s Royal College, insinuates that the role of a ‘sir’ in a young man’s life can make a critical difference.
His self-analysis suggests that although he does not fall into the conventional sense of a hardline, tough-love, dominant disciplinarian, his nurturing sensibilities have played an important role in guiding the paths of not only his biological sons but all the young men who have come under his care.
Carter spent almost all of his childhood, young adulthood, and later career in male-dominated institutions, and therefore has had many years of studying the coming of age of young men. The son of two educators, Carter pursued his tertiary education at the University of the West Indies, Mona, gaining a degree in languages and majoring in French. When he returned to T&T in 1972 to be an educator, armed with “an education that liberated his mind,” along with the backdrop of the recent Black Power Movement, his path eventually led him to Queen’s Royal College. In September 1972, he got a teaching position at the school, “which amused me because of the traditional rivalry between my alma mater, St Mary’s College, and QRC.”
Thus began his 35-year career at the college. During those years, Carter grew a family of his own after “marrying a south girl,” his wife, and a stellar educator in her own right, Beverly-Anne Carter. As fate would have it, the couple had two pairs of twin boys in 1984 and 1986, which they considered “a divine sense of humour,” both being the only children in their respective families.
Carter considers “my boys, both my blood sons and all the sons I have adopted, my life’s greatest achievement.” His biological sons are all now adult men with advanced tertiary degrees, flourishing careers of their own, and are well-respected in their professions.
When pondering the way that his family life and career intersected, Carter muses that “being a male educator was a different expression of the exact same role I had as a father. To protect, shape, discipline, and educate my children.”
He applied the same ethos to his authority in school as he did at home, considering children as their own people, with their own opinions, and his role merely to guide rather than force and control. Based on the closeness he still shares with many of his former students, who are now adults with families and careers, his extended fatherhood was significantly impactful in many of their lives.
In an article written by Carter in 2023 for the Teaching Service Commission Newsletter, he described his preoccupation as of late: Where do young males get their role models from?
This question, underscored by a grave discrepancy between male and female teachers in the public secondary education system (72 per cent female educators, 28 per cent male educators), has plagued Carter, and he stressed the importance of young men having access to male teachers. “If a young man, without a father present, has only dancehall artistes like Movado and Dexta Daps to look up to, what is to come of that young man,” he says. “Although I must admit I quite enjoy Shabba Madda Pot by Dexta Daps.”
He believes that particularly between the ages of 13-18 years old, boys are fixated on the question of how to become a “real man.” That idea of real manhood is then shaped by what they see around them. Throughout his career, Carter has made it his mission to make sure that his presence has filled the gaps left by the absence of strong male role models.
As principal at QRC, he spent copious amounts of time not cooped up in an office away from the students, but roaming the corridors, popping into classrooms and art and music rooms, chatting with students, and attending every final game of any sport that QRC boys were in, thereby establishing a constant presence in the lives of these young men.
He also accounts for the subliminal transition of influence that happened as a teacher, insisting that “although I might be teaching French in a classroom, my value system comes out, and the importance of discipline, hard work, and honesty become apparent just through my classroom teaching.”
Still a mentor in many ways, he says to any young men this might reach, “Lead as purposeful and thought-driven a life as possible, realising that literally everything you do has consequences.”
Encouraging young men who are at a crossroads or at a pivotal time in their lives to spend time thinking about what they want their lives to look like, he believes that this thoughtfulness is a key to growing into a “real man.” In his many years of mentorship, he has noted that the most successful men “don’t just live haphazardly, driven by emotion or plain fun. They look around for good models to build solid ideas of manhood, listening to older heads who have seen and understood a great deal.”
Now in his seventies and dedicated to enjoying his retirement with the beautiful backdrop of our sister isle, along with his wife of now 40 years, Carter spends time reflecting.
“When I look back at my career, I realise that my temperament is what enabled me to get through to so many young men. I was practically a substitute father for them, where either their fathers were absent or they were in conflict. I was there to listen and support.”
These reflections, along with his wealth of experience, make him an excellent source of advice for young fathers who are new to this business of fatherhood.
“Fatherhood is about being as supportive of the woman as possible; make sure you don’t only support the child, but show their mothers appreciation and respect because what nature imposes on them is not easy.” This support is shown by having an equal part to play in both the fun and mundane aspects of child-rearing, ensuring that as a father, you share the responsibilities at every stage of the child’s life.
William Carter II is responsible for shaping the minds and hearts of many men, both young and old, throughout our nation. His dedication to fatherhood has not only been to the great benefit of the four Carter boys but has also impacted the lives and paths of many more. The line between parenthood and education is very fine, and educators and teachers both hold powerful repositories of knowledge when it comes to raising children. Carter has expertly trodden the fine line and remains one of the standout educators of his generation, and indeed, a dad to many men across the country.
Quick Q’s with William Carter:
Best parts of being a dad?
• Seeing my children achieve the things I haven’t been able to achieve.
• Being part of their growth from a baby to adulthood.
• Delighting in the differences between my boys.
What’s on your Father’s Day wishlist?
• No cologne or socks!
• Any significant positive achievement that my sons have in their lives.
