So, how do we measure the true value of friendship? At Mark Daly's wake earlier this evening I remembered a funny story when he was playing Championship Football for Fyzo... and his good buddy Charlie was on the receiving end of a head butt to his mouth. Charlie's mouth was severely damaged - losing most of his upper and lower front teeth. I left the game and had to rush Charlie to the hospital. Later that night at the hospital Mark appears walking along the corridor and hands me something wrapped in a paper napkin - it was Charlie's teeth! Mark had gone back to the field after the game, found Charlie's teeth and travelled from Fyzabad to San Fernando to deliver them. I don't remember if Charlie was able to re-insert his teeth - though I know that he had some major dental surgery. I still find it remarkable that Mark would have the presence of mind to go in search of Charlie's teeth and then to actually find them on a football field and deliver them to his buddy - I suppose that this gesture really reflects the value that Mark was as a friend.
+ve vibes,
Mark
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Remembering Mark Daly
Many times as teachers and coaches we are credited with shaping and influencing the lives of young people... and sometimes a young person passes through your space and he/she creates a lasting impression... and the roles are reversed as they influence and shape the lives of coaches/teachers... and those with whom they interact. Although I am no longer actively coaching/teaching, I am one of the fortunate teachers/coaches who have had the opportunity to share a space in my life with many beautiful young people - students who made me think, grow, learn, love...
Today I write this blog with much sadness in my heart on the passing of a true gem of a young man. I had the opportunity to teach and coach Mark Daly when he entered Fyzabad Composite School around age 12. Mark was an outstanding athlete, representing the school at volleyball, basketball and Championship Division football. I remember him being involved in drama as well..., but it was his everlasting smile and his peaceful disposition that won him gold medals among those with whom he interacted.
Mark was any coach's dream athlete... and when I coached the National Junior volleyballers in 1997, I literally begged Mark to try out for the team - he was hesitant as the training clashed with his preparations for CXC exams... but he made the sacrifice and travelled with the team to Barbados for the Inaugural Caribbean Junior Championships - he came off the bench then, but later would be a starting player on the National Senior team... and eventually team captain!
Mark continued his education and was again my student - this time at UWI as he began his tertiary education in sport... and I continued to learn from him. At the time of his death, Mark was enrolled in the Bachelors Degree in Sport Studies at UTT... working with the Ministry of Sport and studying part-time.
Today I thank God for blessing us with this beautiful person who no doubt would have influenced and shaped many lives through the way he lived... and loved.
God bless your beautiful soul Mark - let perpetual light shine upon you and may you rest in peace...
+ve vibes,
Mark
Today I write this blog with much sadness in my heart on the passing of a true gem of a young man. I had the opportunity to teach and coach Mark Daly when he entered Fyzabad Composite School around age 12. Mark was an outstanding athlete, representing the school at volleyball, basketball and Championship Division football. I remember him being involved in drama as well..., but it was his everlasting smile and his peaceful disposition that won him gold medals among those with whom he interacted.
Mark was any coach's dream athlete... and when I coached the National Junior volleyballers in 1997, I literally begged Mark to try out for the team - he was hesitant as the training clashed with his preparations for CXC exams... but he made the sacrifice and travelled with the team to Barbados for the Inaugural Caribbean Junior Championships - he came off the bench then, but later would be a starting player on the National Senior team... and eventually team captain!
Mark continued his education and was again my student - this time at UWI as he began his tertiary education in sport... and I continued to learn from him. At the time of his death, Mark was enrolled in the Bachelors Degree in Sport Studies at UTT... working with the Ministry of Sport and studying part-time.
Today I thank God for blessing us with this beautiful person who no doubt would have influenced and shaped many lives through the way he lived... and loved.
God bless your beautiful soul Mark - let perpetual light shine upon you and may you rest in peace...
+ve vibes,
Mark
Monday, November 9, 2009
Too much $$$ for schools football
Earlier this year, a past student of my alma mater (Presentation College) wrote a couple of articles in the local newspaper chastising the College and the Past Students Association for spending too much money on football - his articles were actually in response to a request for support going out to all past students from the Past Students Association. His argument was essentially that there seemed to be too much emphasis (and use of resources) on the football programme... at the expense of other potentially valuable educational activities.
Well there are many things that I want to say about this, but I'll limit my response to two items. The first is that the main purpose of the college (and schools in general) is about preparing young people for life - and although academic knowledge is of obvious value, it only represents a limited dimension of development. Sport (and music and the creative arts) remain a powerful medium for the development of many dimensions of life, primarily because of the authentic environment that each presents - an environment that can easily facilitate the entire spectrum of real life - both positive and negative - including cooperative behaviours associated with team work; discipline and perseverance; problem solving and strategic/tactical thinking; development of healthy lifestyles; etc. (Many of these experiences are not easily facilitated in the traditional academic classes). So the real issue is why aren't we providing more resources/opportunities for (more) students to participate in meaningful, well-organized sport (and music and creative arts) programmes.
The second point is in regard to the perceived disparity in the allocation of resources within the school system. The main reason that the PSA has to beg for funds for the football programme is because the bulk of funding allocated to schools (directly and indirectly) supports academic programming - these costs include facilities for teaching, salaries for academic teachers who make up more than 90% of the staff, etc. Academic programmes also take up the bulk of space (classrooms/labs) and time... and then after sitting through a day of academic programming, students are often sent off for after-school 'extra lessons'... with yet more funding (and time) being spent on academic programming (in this case mainly at the expense of parents). So, if there is indeed any imbalance, it surely weighs heavily in favour of traditional academic programmes.
So let's be clear - well organized sport programmes provide authentic, meaningful and valuable learning experiences for young people... and although there is significant research that supports this, we continue to focus on traditional academic education... at the expense of meaningful, authentic and valuable life-long learning experiences through sport. The Presentation College Past Students Association is doing its part to provide these experiences - hopefully others will recognize the value of their efforts and join the campaign so that more young people may benefit.
+ve vibes,
Mark
Well there are many things that I want to say about this, but I'll limit my response to two items. The first is that the main purpose of the college (and schools in general) is about preparing young people for life - and although academic knowledge is of obvious value, it only represents a limited dimension of development. Sport (and music and the creative arts) remain a powerful medium for the development of many dimensions of life, primarily because of the authentic environment that each presents - an environment that can easily facilitate the entire spectrum of real life - both positive and negative - including cooperative behaviours associated with team work; discipline and perseverance; problem solving and strategic/tactical thinking; development of healthy lifestyles; etc. (Many of these experiences are not easily facilitated in the traditional academic classes). So the real issue is why aren't we providing more resources/opportunities for (more) students to participate in meaningful, well-organized sport (and music and creative arts) programmes.
The second point is in regard to the perceived disparity in the allocation of resources within the school system. The main reason that the PSA has to beg for funds for the football programme is because the bulk of funding allocated to schools (directly and indirectly) supports academic programming - these costs include facilities for teaching, salaries for academic teachers who make up more than 90% of the staff, etc. Academic programmes also take up the bulk of space (classrooms/labs) and time... and then after sitting through a day of academic programming, students are often sent off for after-school 'extra lessons'... with yet more funding (and time) being spent on academic programming (in this case mainly at the expense of parents). So, if there is indeed any imbalance, it surely weighs heavily in favour of traditional academic programmes.
So let's be clear - well organized sport programmes provide authentic, meaningful and valuable learning experiences for young people... and although there is significant research that supports this, we continue to focus on traditional academic education... at the expense of meaningful, authentic and valuable life-long learning experiences through sport. The Presentation College Past Students Association is doing its part to provide these experiences - hopefully others will recognize the value of their efforts and join the campaign so that more young people may benefit.
+ve vibes,
Mark
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