EXCITEMENT and intrigue were not lost on the more than 260 children who stood looking wide-eyed as smiling police officers mounted horses, adjusted hats, straightened tiny replica police uniforms, or stopped to pick up a child from time to time in a comforting manner.
The recent celebration was a joint effort by Glad Tidings Early Childhood Development Centre and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, which headed the march with mounted troops, much to the excitement of the children who were all dressed in 'police' and 'military' gear.
"It's our career day and we wanted it with a difference," Dianne White, principal of the school, said. "And so we chose this theme because a lot of times we see the security forces being bashed, but we wanted to show that with national security, our future is bright."
Sergeant Ian Purrier from the police Community Safety and Security Division said he saw it fit to collaborate with the school in an effort to have the children realise that the police were their friends and that they could be trusted.
"We want them to learn to cooperate and work with the police," said Purrier. "To know that the police are their friends, not their enemies. It is so well supported by the parents that we get the feedback that the parents are in support of us."
Purrier said that the Vision 2030 goal of making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business, required focus on the areas that would allow children to be the best they could be through training.
Denzil Kerr from the Social Development Commission said as the country set its sights on Vision 2030, "we need to get back to having a spirit where the community will grow a child and put aside the crab in a barrel mentality".
In a presentation to parents, Linval Lewis, chairman of the St Catherine Early Childhood parish board, region six, said career day in early childhood institutions had now become a big thing.
"We believe this is where it all begins and ends, right here at the early childhood level," Lewis said. "We are looking forward to seeing soldiers, policemen, nurses, doctors coming out of these institutions."
Lewis encouraged parents to give their time and support to their children and to encourage whatever dream they may have.
Kenneth Barnes, social worker at the Citizens Security and Justice Programme, said it was time to "tun up parenting to the next level", as many parents never come to recognise that they were responsible for their children's behaviour.
"We create the monsters that are in the society today," he said. "You may blame it on society, you may blame it on the teachers, but look in the mirror at whom you see. There are responsibilities that you take on as a parent, and you need to look at your child as an investment. You need to recognise that your responsibility does not stop with just food, clothes and shelter. It goes far beyond that," Barnes said.
And as security personnel, students, teachers and parents marched from Glad Tidings Early Childhood Development Centre on Brunswick Avenue in Spanish Town, through the community of Hampton Green -- some 15 minutes away -- in celebration of their career day and propelled by the beating of drums from the Troupers band, they did so embracing the theme, "National Security: Our Future is Bright".
These future soldiers from the Glad Tidings Early Childhood Development Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, are all business as they march along Brunswick Avenue during the career day parade. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)
   These future soldiers from the Glad Tidings Early Childhood Development Centre in Spanish Town, St Catherine, are all business as they march along Brunswick Avenue during the career day parade. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD) #slideshowtoggler, #slideshowtoggler a, #slideshowtoggler img {filter:none !important;zoom:normal !important}  1/1  |
"It's our career day and we wanted it with a difference," Dianne White, principal of the school, said. "And so we chose this theme because a lot of times we see the security forces being bashed, but we wanted to show that with national security, our future is bright."
Sergeant Ian Purrier from the police Community Safety and Security Division said he saw it fit to collaborate with the school in an effort to have the children realise that the police were their friends and that they could be trusted.
"We want them to learn to cooperate and work with the police," said Purrier. "To know that the police are their friends, not their enemies. It is so well supported by the parents that we get the feedback that the parents are in support of us."
Purrier said that the Vision 2030 goal of making Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business, required focus on the areas that would allow children to be the best they could be through training.
Denzil Kerr from the Social Development Commission said as the country set its sights on Vision 2030, "we need to get back to having a spirit where the community will grow a child and put aside the crab in a barrel mentality".
In a presentation to parents, Linval Lewis, chairman of the St Catherine Early Childhood parish board, region six, said career day in early childhood institutions had now become a big thing.
"We believe this is where it all begins and ends, right here at the early childhood level," Lewis said. "We are looking forward to seeing soldiers, policemen, nurses, doctors coming out of these institutions."
Lewis encouraged parents to give their time and support to their children and to encourage whatever dream they may have.
Kenneth Barnes, social worker at the Citizens Security and Justice Programme, said it was time to "tun up parenting to the next level", as many parents never come to recognise that they were responsible for their children's behaviour.
"We create the monsters that are in the society today," he said. "You may blame it on society, you may blame it on the teachers, but look in the mirror at whom you see. There are responsibilities that you take on as a parent, and you need to look at your child as an investment. You need to recognise that your responsibility does not stop with just food, clothes and shelter. It goes far beyond that," Barnes said.