Education Letter: No place for the wicked

Your Views

THE TEACHER read with enthusiasm the well-worn book in her hand. The story ended, and the teacher looked around at the children. She will let one of them take the book home to read with their parents.

She gave it to the curly black-haired child who took it to his father.

It was at this juncture that I entered the story with an enraged parent complaining to me in the school playground . The book was Little Black Sambo. In 1999, African-Caribbean learners are faced with exclusions, under-achievement, abuse of every kind and racism invades every particle of their lives.

We must ensure that institutions employ quality teachers who reflect their culture and that teacher training initiates and implements multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-faith training.

PATRICIA FARRELL

Belle Isle

Leeds