Adisco Speech And Prize-Given Day, Matters Arising.

Part One

Culture as is known and universally accepted is the unique way a group of people do their things based on the prevailing environmental circumstances in a given area. This behavior may not be peculiar to a particular group but peculiar to different groups of people who find themselves in the same prevailing environmental conditions. It therefore means that the culture of one group should be similar to that of another group because they all find themselves in the same environment. According to the Webster’s New World Encyclopedia 1992, culture is the way of life of a particular society or group of people, including patterns of thought, beliefs, behavior, customs, traditions, rituals, dress, and language, as well as art, music, and literature. It is a shared pattern of belief, feeling and adaptation, which people carry in their minds. In other words culture is a blueprint for living. People in every culture are raised with a set of values, beliefs, and attitudes. Some are held deeply, and in many cases, they have never been questioned. Others may be negotiable or debatable. But all affect how a person receives a new message.

It is based on this that the role of a leader in every given culture is crucial to the growth of that culture. And in the school situation the cultural situation in school “A” cannot be divorced from that of school “B”. What is happening in Adisadel College should be juxtaposed side by side to that of Mfantsipim, St Augustines and Wesley Girls and compare the difference. Over the years this great school has created this culture notably – Academic Excellence. We are afraid the situation is not the same due to certain reasons. And the reasons are not far-fetched at all. Now the culture of academic excellence has been replaced with the

• Culture of silence

• Culture of impunity

• Culture of endorsement of bad decisions

• Culture of apathy

• Culture of one man decision

• Culture of disrespect for teachers

• Culture of lies

• Culture of indiscipline

Wither is this great school heading to? Indeed it is not fair to anyone for half a leader to hold a full time leadership job. I don’t know why but methink certain individuals and groups should answer this all important question. One such individual is Mr. Graham. He has succeeded in creating apathy and division among the teachers and cabalism has become the order of the day whiles decisions that defy common sense rule. Is he in cahoots with anybody to bring this school down? Gentlemen of the Adisco fraternity, refer to the Graphic edition of 20th March, in the middle page is the story about best students in last year’s WASSCE results. The best student came from Wesley Girls High School and the third best came from Mfantsipim. Of all the so-called well-endowed schools in Ghana, Adisco is the only school that has not won even the Brilliant Science Quiz. You know the cause? Leadership! What Mr. Graham is interested in is self-glorification and aggrandizement. The wise advocates thus; Authority is like soap, the more you use it the less you will have of it. Instead of allowing the system to work, everything is about him and nothing else so wherever the school ends is not his problem but what he will enjoy as an individual. Will he be kind enough to tell us why he left Twifo Praso as a headmaster to come to Adisco? You see, “the younger generation is supposed to rage against the machine, not for it. They're supposed to question authority, not question those who question authority. Bill Maher.

The problem is obvious. And by so doing he has created all the under listed problems for the school and the workers in the institution. When individuals rule there is chaos but when institutions are allowed to function discipline prevails. Indeed there is something in a name but an incompetent leader is a disaster to an otherwise a fine institution like Adisco. My brother, can you imagine a school like Adisco awarding a teacher for being the MOST HARDWORKING OLD BOY? Will Mr. Graham institute an award for the most hardworking non-old boy teacher? This is unprecedented. (Ref: Egya Atta) You see the comparison we are talking about? The award given to Mr. Graham’s driver is questionable. The school has two drivers who travelled extensively to all school functions even on weekends yet Mr. Graham saw it fit to ignore these drivers. He and he only decides on whom to give the award so his “best” driver deserves an award…The funny and ludicrous side of his administration is the penchant for awarding newcomers probably to win their loyalty. Déjà vu, it was seen coming and as predictable as the sunrise from the east, the award to the girls is not surprising at all. What is a firewood splitter doing with a laptop? Oh Gee! I forgot he must have a son or a daughter. Wow!

But what about the other stake holders. The old boys have become toothless bull dogs so this man does what he wants. Where are the instructive old boys that the school used to have? May be Mr. Graham’s god has done it again, by making sure the old boys become dormant and sleepy. Is it true some old boys were in the school some few weeks ago, what for? Did they meet with the teachers? That was a sham. Yell at your child and you prevent him for being bad for a day. Teach him morals and manners and he will be good for a life time. That skewed attempt was a failure from the start. Let no old boy step in the school again else some of us will go on hunger strike. We appear to be only useful for school functions such as the speech and prize-given days.

What about the school Board, virtually non-existent. Yes, because they sit down, look unconcerned and this man does what suits him. No wonder secretaries are cajoled into nominating Bishops as Board Chairmen. What is Mr. Graham afraid of? He doesn’t want the old boys becoming Board Chairmen? Few! As for the teachers the least said about them the better. They are being spoon-fed. Somebody sits at the Acropolis and uses the remote control to mute every soul. Do the teachers have a Welfare Association? If not, you should form one as a matter of urgency for your own good. What type of teachers are you? Too dull and dumb for the world to appreciate you. Leaders of today only hide behind religion to cover up their incompetence, inefficiency and laziness so wise up. Nothing is religion which puts one individual absolutely above others and surely nothing is religion which puts one sex above another. By the way, is it also true that a certain newly appointed headmaster still does purchases on behalf of the school? Eh! Adisco, what is going on? This headmaster has made his driver redundant and drives government vehicle himself. Is this not the so-called causing “financial loss to the state?” In the words of James Broughton, “Everything is Song. Everything is Silence. Since it all turns out to be illusion, perfectly being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, you are free to die laughing.” God willing I will call another time.

Patrick Asiedu

aspat@gmail.co.uk