Minister of Education the Hon. Desmond Bannister, Dr. Patricia Rodgers, permanent secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham cut the ribbon at the official opening of the Anatol Rodgers High School. (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)
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Nassau, The Bahamas –
As the government continues its mission of celebrating those who dedicated
their lives to education, another such person has been memorialised.
That person, the late Anatol
Carridad Rodgers’ legacy was officially recognised during a dedication
service concretising her passion for education. Although the school
was constructed in 2008, an official opening ceremony commemorating
the event was held on Friday, January 20 at the school.
Calling the event a momentous
one, Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham shared his sentiments
on the occasion.
“The Bahamas and its people
have been fortunate to benefit from the services of many dedicated and
committed educators over the years,” said Mr. Ingraham. “Still,
from among that elite group, there is a small cadre whose names are
synonymous with excellence in education and training. Anatol Rodgers’
name looms large among those.
Minister of Education, the
Hon. T. Desmond Bannister echoed the same sentiments, saying that he
was especially proud to be present as Mrs. Rodgers was his former teacher
and principal.
“I am truly overwhelmed because
Mrs. Anatol Rodgers was instrumental in me being here today,” said
Mr. Bannister. “She was my teacher. She was my principal; and I can
tell you that she not only looked the role with her dignified and stately
bearing, and her kind, gracious demeanour; she also had the intellect
to bring academic rigour to the classroom and the presence to put her
students at ease so that we wanted to please her by doing our best at
all times.”
Also present was Minister of
Public works and utilities, the Hon. Neko Grant who gave a breakdown
of the school’s construction.
The children of of the late Anatol Rodgers take part in the unveiling of the plaque to officially open the Anatol Rodgers High School. Pictured from left: Dr. Jonathan Rodgers, Dr. Patricia Rodgers, Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Hubert Ingraham and Mrs. Delores Ingraham. (BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)
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Anatol Rodgers was the eldest
child of Cleveland H. Reeves (after whom C. H. Reeves School is named)
and Lucille Robinson Reeves. She was home schooled by her mother before
she enrolled at the Eastern Senior School and the Government High School.
After receiving a Cambridge certificate with exemption from matriculation
at the age of 15, she taught at the Western Junior School as a junior
assistant tutor. Later, she pursued a Bachelor’s degree from Spelman
College in Atlanta, Georgia. She also received a professional elementary
teacher’s certificate from the Georgia Department of Education and
obtained a Master’s degree in Latin from Atlanta University. Upon
her return to The Bahamas, she became Assistant Mistress at GHS, teaching
English and Latin. She later obtained a postgraduate certificate in
Education from Cambridge University in England. In l971, she became
the third Bahamian and first female to head the Government High School.
She was married to the late D. K.V.A. Rodgers in l942 and the couple
had three children, Emily Rodgers, Dr. Patricia Rodgers and Dr. Jonathan
Rodgers.
The Anatol Rodgers High School
was constructed in 2008. The school boasts of being the only government
school in New Providence that caters to both junior and senior high
school students. With a student population of 1260, the school has 89
teachers.
The school offers two Magnet
programmes – Pre-Engineering and Information Technology. The
cost of this modern facility exceeds $16 million and contains laboratories
for Science, Music and Computers; a multi-purpose gymnasium; state-of-the-art
Hospitality and Family and Consumer Education rooms; an industrial kitchen
and Carpentry and Technical workshops. The school also features sporting
facilities for basketball, tennis and track and field events.
Official Opening Remarks of Anatol Rodgers High School - Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham