Change is inevitable

The decision by the Barrouallie Secondary School, to host this year’s track meet on a Sunday, would indeed stir some concerns, when the reality hits home to some members of the general public.

One envisages some negative reaction to Barrouallie Secondary’s break from tradition, as several arguments would be put forward against the move.
But this is expected, as change is often met with resistance, and the varying opinions would emerge.

Concerns over Barrouallie Secondary’s move would be no different from the concerns raised in 2015, when Bethel High School decided to innovate and have their athletics championships from afternoon into the evenings, utilising the lights at the Victoria Park.

Since that experiment, Bethel High School has continued, with Barrouallie Secondary joining the fray in 2017, and Intermediate High School and the Dr. JP Eustace Memorial jointly having their last year, and will again do so today, Friday, February 22.

Talk is buzzing that other schools are contemplating adding to the list.

But the change efforts of the aforementioned schools which have held the evening sports have thus far been successful.

This measurement of success comes against fears expressed over safety at the venue and of the students, after the event has concluded and other logistical anxieties. Those fears have been reduced with proper planning by those who put on the schools’ track meet.

Whilst one has to accept some of the apprehensions proffered, we have to begin to trust the competence of the physical education teachers and other support staff of these educational institutions, who are willing to deviate from the norm and be novel in some cases.

In the main, the physical education teachers who spearhead these events are trained persons, who are simply putting their professional expertise into practice.

Critical too, is that these university-trained teachers are responding to trends, inclusive of the social adjustments and the change in the demographics of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Change is inevitable and it is time for persons to accept this truism, as it cannot be same mundane approach to sports year in and year out.

Unfortunately, there are many policymakers in the Ministry of Education, who are bent on keeping the archaic way of thinking.

This institutionalised skepticism about anything outside what is considered normal operations, and what existed many years ago and what was practical then, but not bearing fruits in today’s setup, must be done away with eternally.

These personnel need to get with the programme and get on board with the change.

This is not to say that all new ideas are fraught with perfection and the desired objectives would be achieved with simple implementation, but at least things must be refreshed ever so often.

The changes employed by the various schools’ track events have taken the lead in showing the way towards innovative thinking.

Not only are schools gravitating to evening sports at the Victoria Park and, now, in the case of Barroaullie Secondary, having theirs on a Sunday, there are some other noteworthy configurations.

Just recently, there was the introduction of an all-Leeward secondary schools’ track event, which acts as a prelude to the much hyped Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships (ISSAC).

From all reports, the event fine tunes athletes for their showing at the larger national schools’ championships.

Last Friday, at the Bethel High School’s track meet at Victoria Park, there were two invitational relays for males and females, for schools outside the host institutions.

This innovation augurs well for the future, as athletes will be looking forward to showcase their talent at other schools’ events.
Too, last week, Troumaca Ontario Secondary and Troumaca Secondary jointly held their track meet at the Cumberland Playing Field, a first for both.
They add to the established joint ventures, such as Bequia Community High and Bequia Seventh Day Adventist, St Vincent Grammar School and Girls’ High School, and the St Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and the St Martin’s Secondary.

Hopefully, with the lights of change burning, the powers that be will be encouraged to deviate from the status quo.