Future-generation nurses, pilots, doctors, soldiers, and even a bank teller roamed St. Paul’s United Infant School’s corridors and classrooms on Career Day last Thursday,
Cosplaying adult careers they could someday pursue, the infant students paused to welcome Police Civilian Oversight Authority Chief Executive Officer Otarah Byfield-Nugent into their midst.
She came bearing gifts to the Kingston Gardens-located early childhood institution: educational colouring books. In-between the books’ pages are visual vignettes – positively reinforced interactions of policemen and women and citizens – for the little ones to liven up with wax and pencil crayons.
“The greater purpose that I hope will be realised through these colouring books,” Byfield-Nugent shared, “is for infants to view the police and the Jamaica Constabulary Force as a safe space.”
The PCOA CEO’s wish for the book’s impact was joyfully experienced in real-time.
Pulling up a seat next to five-year-old Jahani Williams and his six-year-old St. Paul’s United classmate Kairo McLeod – both dressed as doctors for the day – Byfield-Nugent’s turn of each page of the coloring book elicited immediate interest.
McLeod and Willams looked intently at the visuals in the book that were retooled images from the top six winners and participants in the Transforming Our Police Service (TOPS) Secondary School Poster Competition for Area 2. The aspiring surgeon and general practitioner were sufficiently intrigued and ready to colour.
“I was very pleased with the interaction. It brought warmth to my heart because it reminded me of the innocent and impressionable space I was in when I was their age,” the CEO noted, after the brief encounter.
She outlined that the TOPS Secondary School Poster competition was an important part of PCOA’s programme annually, given that it also acts as the genesis for the colouring book.
“Each year, we solicit participation of secondary school students in the Jamaica Constabulary Force Area we are inspecting for the TOPS competition at the time. We invite the students to express how they feel about good citizen-police relationships through art. It is a creative way to get them inspired and engaged in the dialogue about building trust and confidence in the JCF, with a view to shape its transformation for the future,” added the Ministry of National Security and Peace agency’s leading woman.
For Nicholas Johnson, who has served as St. Paul’s United’s principal for the past year, the colouring books have deeper significance.
“I am happy there are concepts in the book, so that our teachers can guide the students to know that a policeman’s job is not just to arrest because that is not the sole purpose of the Force. it’s about building a relationship with people and students to know that they are safe,” noted Principal Johnson who oversees a current student population of 71 young minds, four lead teachers and four caregivers.
“It not [only] about the students comprehending numbers and developing fine moto skills, but [the books] also give them an understanding about policing, and good citizenship.” said Johnson, who chose his educational career as he believes teaching is a ministry.
“Faith and education were always linked in my home, “shared the 48-year-old who grew up in a Waltham Park Road inner-city community and previously was principal of Jahmona Basic School.
Distribution of the PCOA’s colouring books was not limited to St. Paul’s United. The government agency’s staff next visited Dunrobin Primary and Allman Town Infant School.
At the latter, Principal Dorothy Mason Balmer was most receptive of receiving books for the second consecutive year. PCOA ‘s Senior Director of Inspections and Monitoring Andrew Beaumont was on location handing over a tote bag filled with books.
With 70 students on Allman Town’s register, the early childhood educator and school lead underscored the value of the books to her young charges.
“For the children’s development, colouring books play a vital role,” Mason Balmer explained. “There are several foundational skills they gain when they use them. They enhance their fine motor skills and hand and eye coordination. They also learn about colours and words, and also acquire critical thinking, and problem solving skills too.”
The principal is celebrating her two-decade anniversary at the school this year.
“I have grown tremendously with the community because most of the people in the community are taking their children and grandchildren here. It tells my age,” she shared with a chuckle.
“I am a child at heart. My passion is early childhood education because this is the foundation. Once we set a strong foundation, that is where you will see them evolve and do well.”
A precocious Amelia Waysome, Allman Town Infant’s head girl, had thoughts to offer on the subject at hand.
“Yellow and orange are my favourite colours,” she declared of her go-to crayons. “I like pictures with lots of trees and houses to colour.”
The six-year-old said while happiness is found in colouring books, what also brings satisfaction is helping her mother with her one-year-old sibling at home.
“I look after my baby brother, and play with him and help to make his bottles,” she divulged.
Dunrobin was the final stop. Dr. Sacheel Grant-Henry, principal of the primary school, had voluminous praise for how colouring books served its young audience.
“They are absolutely important,” she pointed out as she was repeatedly interrupted to be hugged by students walking to classes.
“We talk initially about the fine motor skills that need to be developed, and colouring within the spaces. This speaks to children’s competence because when you colour in the lines, it means you are following good directions.”
Warm hugs are part and parcel of Grant-Henry’s daily operational model as principal as she does her rounds at the school.
“My highlight each day is engaging in expressive, meaningful conversations with the children,” shared the woman who was a former principal at Drews Avenue Primary and Infant, and a classroom teacher and grade supervisor at Tarrant High.
The PCOA’s colouring book is an extension arm of its TOPS programme that includes the poster competitions held in one of the five JCF area commands; an awards ceremony; a performance review meeting with the JCF hierarchy at which targets for improvement are agreed upon; and a re-inspection to determine if these are met.