David Taylor's Report on Visit to Jamaica College March 4th 2009

I had the pleasure of touring Jamaica College with the Hon. R. Danny Williams, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Jamaica College, and Chairman of the Jamaica College foundation. He is the person behind the revitalization of the school, and is passionate about taking Jamaica College back to the top.

The school, as can be seen in the series
of Hugh Wright photos on the website is in immaculate condition. The state of repair of the buildings as well as the cleanliness of the grounds is better than it was when I attended Jamaica College in the 1960's.

As you walk the grounds and visit class rooms, library, computer labs and sports fields, you are left with the distinct impression that there is once more a sense of inevitability about JC's rise to the top. There is a purpose in the leadership of the school at the Executive level, Administrative level, Teachers, Prefects and students as well as the grounds keeping staff, The infirmary has been refurbished and the outbuildings behind Sirnms have been demolished and new structures built. Honour Boards have been replaced so that boys have a sense of purpose and recognize what they have to live up to.

My visit was after school had officially ended, however, the three computer labs I visited were n use and were being supervised by teachers. A meeting chaired by the school captain was taking place in the library. The table tennis team were practicing in the dining room, the tennis team were on the courts, the sunlight team were practicing, basketball was being played on the court, the track team split between the throwing events on the bottom field and the track events on the upper field were training. Each team was being supervised by a coach or coaches.

There is a sense that Jamaica College is on the move in every aspect of school life. R. Danny Williams and his crew cannot do it alone, they need our continued support. Please contact a member of the Executive to see how you can assist.

A. David Taylor

Immediate Past President