In recent issues of The Anguillian, there has been much press coverage on the new Community College in Anguilla. First and foremost, I find that this notion of instituting an opportunity for tertiary education in Anguilla is a fantastic idea as it provides more opportunities for growth within this nation for everyone, especially the young people.

In order to receive a college education, it is imperative for one to leave Anguilla to do so although there are certain distance learning options. The notion of one leaving his/her home contains a certain amount of fright and anxiety and for this reason many choose to not leave. Ignorance, a word that typically connotes a negative reaction, in this article is being used to describe the notion of simply not understanding particular aspects of different circumstances. Having said that, there is a certain level of ignorance among the youth in Anguilla about what college actually entails. Therefore, a Community College in Anguilla can only have positive outcomes for youth development as adolescents can see first hand, without having to leave their comfort zone, the inner workings of a college.

Initially, the major programs of study that have been mentioned deal with the hospitality industry. There is of course an obvious need for training courses as it is costly for hotels to incessantly send staff to other parts of the world for adequate or specialized training and just as costly to bring in someone from the outside. Also, in terms of the enormous amount of building in Anguilla, certain courses that fall under the various “trades” will be offered as well. The idea of a community college is a normal entity in the United States as it is used as a stepping stone to later move on to a more formal university to complete a bachelor’s degree. I have not seen much written in the media about a curriculum designed so that students, if they so desire, can continue their program of study elsewhere in order to obtain a more advanced degree. I know that there is a need for specific courses that meet the needs of the workforce demands, but it is vital that there not be a compromising of the basic components of a “college education.”

I received a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature and Education from Gardner-Webb University in 1999 and subsequently began a one year teaching assignment thereafter in a high school. Shortly after, I began a Ph.D. program where I was lucky enough to receive an offer to be an adjunct instructor of Spanish at the University of Kentucky. During that 5 year period, I was also able to live in Spain as a Professor of English at the Universidad de Valladolid, one of the oldest universities in Europe. In my 5 years of teaching at the university level, the problem facing all students was their ability to write well. Proper writing was and continues to be the downfall of most college students. I spent more time teaching grammar, syntax, semantics, elaboration of ideas, and punctuation than anything else. Professors accept as a norm, that students should already have a high level of writing proficiency due to the fact that there is a selection process used to admit students into a higher learning institution. This is obviously not the case as students these days simply cannot write well. My overall point can be summed up in two statements: Teachers, in all subject areas, need to emphasize the writing process in their classroom so that students will be ready for the demands of college. In this new Community College, the professors must hold the students accountable for their ability to write well as this notion directly relates to accreditation issues. Any institution strives to be accredited because it is a way for that school to be validated as a serious proponent of higher education. All in all, I am excited for all parties involved, about this new Community College as I believe that it is good for Anguilla and the children. I only hope that this new institution will hold a high standard so that its graduates or certificate holders cannot only benefit from great courses, but eventually leave the college and make Anguilla proud.

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