Radio Program Interview

Public Address

(Faith based partnerships: Capable mechanisms for crime reduction, prison reform and community empowerment)
Power 102 FM- Trinidad and Tobago, WI.
4/30/2006

Dr. Edwards what are your views on the current crime situation facing our country?

There is no use in me belabouring the point that recent times have seen an upsurge in both the heinousness as well as the rapidity with which crimes have been committed in Trinidad and Tobago. The good news is that the rapid spate of crime seems to have abated within the last few weeks. The bad news is that the lull may be just that, abatement. The good news about the bad news is that if essential and innovative steps are put in place the slow down can be sustainable.

Educating with Soul: The Missing Ingredient

Public Address

(Delivered at Pat-Kam School Annual Awards Ceremony)
Preamble:

• We thank Pat-Kam & its leadership for bringing together this commonwealth of gratitude and appreciation.  This evening’s proceedings give a loud voice to the essential, thank you; we all long for but seldom receive. I dare say honorees, your plaques, bouquets and citations explain only a small percentage of the joy you are experiencing; the greater part comes from just the thought that someone recognizes your contributions and sacrifices.

Transition:

• Ladies and gentlemen, it’s the notion of education that this evening is all about. The fact that honorees come from different fields account for the ways in which education concerns intersect with, and are supported by all aspects of life. 
• Passionate concerns and robust debate often attend school practice. The irony is that more concerns, debate and expense seem to produce lesser outcomes. Equally interesting is that ever pundit has a take on why solutions don’t work. I can do no more harm by adding my voice to the discourse. I’ve chosen to caption my presentation, education reform: a missing ingredient.
  

INTRODUCTION:
What’s Missing
One missing element may best defined as student conceptualization of school.  Envisage today’s average student en-route to school. What image/s of the destination called school informs his/her thinking?  Maybe at best, a place to hang-out with friends or make out with lovers. Perhaps even a pastime venue for honing survival skills for the ‘hood’ or ‘street’.  At worst, school connotes a place of insecurity, unwanted exposure, failure; even hopelessness. Too often this zero sum spectrum holds true.  As educators, these may not be notions we care to acknowledge, let alone affirm.  Nevertheless, on the basis of (at least) anecdotal evidence it is a prospect we cannot escape or deny.  The sad reality is that the daily journey to school of far too many minority students is undertaken without a worthy image of the purpose for which they are making the trip.

Riverview

Public Address

(Delivered at Brazil SDA Church on Dedication Day)
A trickle down of Confucius thought famously claims that one cannot stand in the same river twice. Zen masters on the other hand emphasize the immutable standing of the river not only as a landmark but as a symbol of constancy. So is the river the water that flows with minerals, sediments and debris or the banks and physical pathway that the watercourse takes. If your definition of river is the water that flows then indeed you cannot stand in the same river twice. If to you the river is its banks and its physical course-way then every day the river is the same, constant.  

Whatever your definition of river maybe I remember standing in the Brazil River, Arena Road and  baptizing over forty souls as a result of two simultaneous crusades conducted by Bro. Lennox Alicock in Brazil Village proper and Bro. Julian in Arena Village. Those were some days and nights I tell you. Though some of you may know what I’m speaking about others may not. Because that was then, some of you had already past and moved on; others were yet to come.  That of course brings me back to the definition of river. So is the river the water or the watercourse?

The Search for Meaning

Public Address

(Delivered at Brazil SDA Dedication Weekend Vesper Service)
One interesting way Jesus taught when he walked upon earth was the provoking way in which he questioned people. Jesus had this particular knack for asking hard questions and forcing people to think more than they planned to or were accustomed to. Hear Jesus one day:

What do you think? A certain man had two sons. He said to the 1st go work today in my vineyard. He said I go sir but did not go. The 2nd said I will not go but later repented and went. Which of the 2 did the will of the father? Immediately you think you know the answer. But please, don’t be too quick to voice it.

The End Depends on the Beginning

Public Address

(School building extension dedication address)
Today we’re gathered to dedicate and commission the extended physical plant of Pat-Kam school of early education.  Before proceeding further, I congratulate Ron and Geraldine.  This undertaking is tribute to your pursuit of excellence as well as the good of others.  I am fully aware that this completed edifice is etched with your perspiration and garrisoned with your perseverance; it’s a thrill to see the night of your toil give birth to this daybreak of celebration. It is equally clear that this project would be rendered impossible without the demonstrated team spirit of the faculty and assistance of many others. So I salute the entire school family here at Pat-Kam.

As we commemorate the achievement let us be mindful that this institution is a player on a larger landscape and part of a wider backdrop.  The function of education in society is held to be a critical element in human development and socialization.  Almost every dysfunction and discomfort of society is often perceived as a deficiency in the educative process. Accordingly the sphere of education is a churning sea of discontent, debate and impending change.  Public education particularly has maintained a surface of buoyant discourse with very little by way of achieved difference to show.  Private education has long tried to provide a mediating role by attempting to bridge expectations and outcomes.  Because of different terms of reference public and private education enterprises are not to be conceived as Siamese twins; neither are they to be pitted as archenemies. Both practices are affected and informed by going-ons in each other’s world.