EDITORIAL -

Bishop’s College in Hillsborough deserves highest compliments for planning and executing a “successful inaugural Bishop’s College Inspirational Day”.

The powerful effects of these spiritual and therapeutic exercises, not uncommon in the nation’s secondary schools, should not be underestimated.

In the case of Bishop’s College, additional commendation must go to them for the way the exercise was organized.

Secondary education came to Grenada mainly as mono-gender schools, such that the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School (GBSS) and the Presentation Brothers’ College (PBC) are all-male schools whereas the Anglican High School (AHS) and the St. Joseph’s Convents are all-female schools.

Subsequently, co-educational schools were introduced whereby both male and female students are enrolled at the same school, with the St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) being the oldest.

It is common practice that the secondary schools, both mono-gender and co-educational, have their spiritual exercises, inspirational days and retreats. In some cases it is almost an imperative for the fifth formers who are preparing for public examinations. That is good and necessary.

However, Bishop’s College initiative is somehow a clear indication of an awareness that there are times when the male and the female would have different needs.

That was precisely what the planners of Bishop’s College Inspirational Day recognized and so they made the move to satisfy that need. The different topics chosen on different days for presentation demonstrate that awareness. According to reports from “Inside Carriacou and Petite Martinique” with Rawle Paterson, on the first day the female students had presentations from Dr. Carol McIntosh who dealt with ‘Health’, Rhonda McLawerence on ‘Morals and Values’ and Fleur Patrice on the topic ‘Etiquette’. On the second day it was the turn of the male students who got a double dose from Inspector Mathurine on ‘The Dangers of Illicit Drugs’ and ‘Drugs and the Law’ while Dominic McFarlane lectured on ‘Etiquette’.

The parish of Carriacou is once again leading the nation in some form of creativity for it is not the first time that thoughtful initiatives have come from that part of the nation. This is a worthwhile venture which the other co-educational Secondary Schools in the nation emulate for much can be said about having the male and female students separated for particular exercises. At this time, when it appears that morals in the nation’s schools appear to be at an all time low and when disciplining students is becoming an up-hill task for teachers, these types of exercises are of invaluable edification. Fr. Otis Nichols, the Spiritual Director of the school and who dealt with ‘Spirituality’, must also be commended for his presence and input in the exercise.