Little London High School

Little London High School is on the outskirts of the small town of Little London, Jamaica and is approximately 15 minutes East of Negril.  It is not a traditional high school and is referred to as a “New Secondary” school which starts at Grade 7.  For students who are not reading at high school level (or at all) and are not academically inclined, the focus is on teaching students practical skills and the trades.  As one of the teachers explained, “this school wants to provide students a chance in practical areas – especially for those who are theoretically not strong.”  Most of the students are from very poor, rural families.

There are approximately 1200 students in extremely overcrowded conditions -- with as many as 60 students per classroom where there should be no more than 25 students per classroom.  However, upon entering the school grounds, the care, dedication, enthusiasm and respect are apparent at this amazingly clean and neat high school.  The administrators and teachers along with a motivated Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are active in raising their own funds for supplies, materials and cosmetic additions to some classrooms.  For example, the yearly Mango Festival in a nearby village is one venue for their Home Economics Department to sell their creations to raise money.

At Little London High School, the needs are great. A project undertaken by long-time FOJ supporters Glenn and Teresa McBride has made a difference to students in the Woodworking and Industrial Arts classrooms.

Please enjoy this story, with pictures - in Glenn and Teresa’s own words - describing their journey from project inception through delivery of the tools.

Students using the tools to learn a skill.  The smile says it all.

In addition to the project in the story, donations from an FOJ online fundraiser in the Spring of 2007, funds raised by Hal Harrison in Salem, IL and a major donation from Bob McBride (brother of Glenn McBride) were used to help build a new fence at Little London High School. Hal has been a long-time supporter and true “Friend of Jamaica”, by contributing to other FOJ projects in addition to his own fundraising work for Torrington School outside Sav La Mar.


Garfield James, our contact at Little London, standing by the new wall.

The new wall on the side joins with the front.

Shops that were added to the new wall taking advantage of already having one wall for the room.

At Little London High School, the needs remain great. This school teaches important skills to students who are not meeting academic standards, mostly in reading. I would compare some of the areas to a vocational school in the US. Without this school, many of these kids would be lost to gangs and the street.

 

There are 9 departments at this High School that are in greatest need and teachers from each department quickly and enthusiastically provided a “wish list.”  Ideally, each Department would have a computer, printer, scanner, and multimedia projector.

Agriculture: Two chicken units were repaired after their destruction during Hurricane Ivan, but there are still no chickens.  The students are presently reaping melons, pumpkins, etc.

Wish list

• Machetes (6)
• Files (6)
• Spades (3)
• Insecticides (Malation, Karate, Diazinon)
• Fungicides (Champion – Copper Oxychloride,
• Weedicides
• Round-Up or Glyphosate (1 gallon)
• Seeds (Lettuce, Tomato, Sweet Pepper, Melon, Corn, Pok Choi, Calaloo)
• Fertilizer – 15:5:35 (2 bags) and Sulfate of Ammonia (1 bag)

Science:  The Jamaican Government began providing a Chemistry Lab; however, the project was stopped halfway for unknown reasons.  The infrastructure is in place (water & gas lines, tables with sinks, stools) but there are no materials or equipment.  As the Science teacher stated, “We have the skeleton but we need the flesh.”

Wish list

• Overhead Slide Projector
• Beam Balance
• Clamp and Stands
• Distillation Set-up
• Refrigerator (small)
• Periscope
• Kaleidoscope
• Microscope
• Ray Box (re: light rays)
• Human Model showing Digestive System and Organs
• Dissecting Knives
• Chairs

An old, cracked plaster model still in use!

Food and Nutrition / Home Economics:  This classroom appears extremely tidy, clean and equipped due to the PTA and fund raising efforts.  On closer investigation, it is noted that many necessary items are missing:

Wish list

• Multimedia Projector
• Blender
• Mixer (heavy duty and hand)
• Pressure Cooker
• Mixing Bowls
• Utensils
• Recipe Books
• Scissors and Glue
• Garnishing Set
• Cake Decorating Set
• Cookie Cutters

Clothing and Textiles / Home Economics Management:

Wish list

• Sewing Machines (only one is operational)
• Ironing Board
• Irons
• Adjustable Mannequin
• Tape Measures
• Sewing Kits
• Pinking Shears
• Tracing Wheels, Carbon, Tailors Chalk

Learning to sew with ONE sewing machine for a class of 15!

Visual Arts / Arts and Crafts:   A beautiful, creative mural was started, but they ran out of paints!

Wish list

• Paints (water color, acrylic, oil)
• Easels
• Water Color and Drawing Paper
• Drawing Pencils
• Construction Paper
• Glues
• Stencil Knives
• Potters Wheel
• Screen Ink for Screen Printing
• Clothes Dye
• Leather Craft Tools
• Light Box for Screen Printing

Mathematics:  The Mathematics teacher assured us that equipment received for the students will be kept in the classroom with a “check out” and “check in” system.

Wish list

• Chalkboard Compasses (4)
• Chalkboard Protractors (4)
• Meter Rulers (4)
• Protractors for Students (100)
• Compasses for Students (100)
• OR Geometry Sets (100)
• Scientific Calculators (100)
• Triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons
• Charts (5)

Cosmetology:  This is the only department that is well-equipped and in good shape from donations and the sponsorship from the HEART Program.

Physical Education Department: The football and cricket teams are doing well in competition.

Wish list

• Soccer balls
• Cricket equipment
• Volleyballs
• Basketballs
• Netballs

School Nurse:  Little LondonHigh School is fortunate to have a wonderful, concerned School Nurse.  She keeps an amazingly tidy and clean “Sick Bay”.

Wish list

• Disposable Gloves
• Examination Table
• Blood Pressure Machine / Sphygmomanometer (mounted or portable)
• Blood Sugar Machine (Glucometer)
• Crepe Bandages
• Elastic Bandages
• Sterile Gauze
• Sterile Cotton Wool
• Tape – 1”, 2” and 3”
• Mosquito Forceps
• Dissecting Forceps
• Non Drowsy Antihistamines
• Throat Lozenges
• Pain Killers – Panadol, Excedrin, etc.

Miscellaneous

Roller blinds are needed to cover open, cement block walls to keep rain out of classrooms during the typical afternoon shower.

There is also a Scouting Program which is in need of a drum set, keyboard and electric guitar, at the very least.