Dear Editor,
I look forward to reading the new four part Volume on Queens College’s illustrious history written by my Former Head Master Clarence Trotz better known to us students by the sobriquet ‘Bulby’. Editor, the Queens College Alumni owes Mr. Trotz a debt of gratitude for the painstaking work he undertook in researching the rich and illustrious history of our Alma Mater and I am sure all students and interested members of the public will find these books a great read. This effort by Mr. Trotz is all the more commendable given that he must now be over 85 years old.
The address by Mr. Trotz to the QC general assembly earlier this week was covered by Stabroek News and among the comments he reportedly made were in relation to the abrupt introduction of co-Education to Queens college in 1975 which of course was also simultaneously introduced into other then unisex schools St .Stanislaus (boys), Bishops High School (girls), St. Roses High School (girls) and St. Josephs High School (girls) in Georgetown.
I wish to pose the following questions to Mr. Clarence Trotz via your letter column to satisfy my own curiosity and indeed I am sure other members of the public may also be interested:
As Headmaster of QC at the time was he consulted by the then Minister of Education as to the Government’s intention to make QC a coeducational school? If yes, can he say when he was consulted and did he discuss this with staff and students?
Did he agree with the government’s decision to make QC a coed school and particularly with the decision to transfer students to Bishops High school to apply to students who had already completed up to two years at the school?
In retrospect if it was his call would he make the decision to make QC and of course others aforementioned into coed schools? Additionally, does he think that the coed process has benefitted the schools that were hitherto unisex institutions?
Regarding corporal punishment which was in effect during his tenure, does he feel that the current thinking to abolish this is one of the reasons that indiscipline is rife in all schools including Queens College?
Looking forward to his response and possibly comments from others who were at school during this momentous time.
Sincerely,
C. Persaud