The latest fleet in the “army of educators” as The College of The Bahamas President Dr. Rodney D. Smith addressed them was formally welcomed into a network of professional educators on Tuesday, 24th May 2016 at the annual Teachers’ Commissioning Ceremony held at The College’s Performing Arts Centre in Oakes Field.
Approximately one hundred twenty graduands participated in the event that has become a staple on The College’s Commencement calendar.
In his welcome address to the graduating students, President Smith reflected on Ms. Brice, a second grade teacher who paid extra attention to him as a student. He used the reference to explain to the new teachers that they can and will make a major impact in each student that they come in contact with over the course of their career and will always be remembered based on the impact.
The ceremony was held under the theme, “Sharing The National Vision: Shaping The Future” and the two-fold subject was respectively addressed by guest Mrs. Sheila Seymour, former Chair of the School of Education and retired educator brought remarks on the national vision for educators. After her message, Seymour passed a baton to the next speaker, which served as a visual symbolization of succession from generation to generation. Ms. Avinel Rutherford’s lively and timely message stirred the graduating educators.
“If we want a prosperous and peaceful nation, then we need to have a vision for our students, Mrs. Seymour has clearly set this out for us all. In order for us to look at shaping our future, we have to be cognizant of our past, where we have come from,” Rutherford advised the newest educators.
Ms. Rutherford implored the graduating students to always be mindful of goal setting, deportment and effective preparation to yield the best results for their students. Additionally she reminded the educators that education goes beyond the curriculum. “We are responsible for teaching social behavior. We are expected to inform the students on healthy eating habits, the importance of exercise and healthy relationships. We have to teach values, etiquette, along with the enforcement of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. It is also important that we cater to the learning styles of our students,” she appealed to the students.
Immediately after the Commissioning address, the Dean, Chair and Faculty of the School of Education conducted the ceremonial pinning of the graduand. A symbolic initiation into the noble educational field and a public declaration to uphold the principles and standards of the time honoured profession.
Ms. D’Aesha Rahming, a Bachelor of Science graduand with a Secondary Certification in Biology/Combined Science gave an emotional response on the behalf of the graduating students of the School of Education.
“Education, the noblest of all professions, is one many look down upon as being something anybody can do. People constantly say being a teacher is so easy and you don’t have to be the brightest in the bunch to do it. I am still questioned today as to why I chose education. ‘You are so smart’ they say. ‘You can use your intelligence for something else’,” she recalls.
In her conclusion she states, “my fellow colleagues and teacher friends, remember that many times we were discouraged but we kept pushing on! As a result of this, we are now here, across the finish line, done with the first major step in many of our lives.”
The ceremony is one of five marking the Commencement season for The College. The others – including the formal Spring Commencement Ceremony at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The College’s 2016 Commencement Class is composed of more than 600 graduates, the majority of whom are earning baccalaureate degrees.
