MIAMI – The Office of the Consulate General for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in Miami, will host a book launch for Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh’s new book, entitled Caribbean-Flavoured Presbyterianism: Education as a Prescription for Socio-Political Development 1868-2008 on Tuesday, July 29 at 7.30pm.
The Consulate General for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago office is located at 1000 Brickell Avenue, Suite 800 in Miami.
Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh is a lecturer in the Department of History at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and also served as a part-time lecturer at the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies and the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr. Teelucksingh has also published articles on Caribbean migration, slavery and religion and recently published a book of plays- Builders of the Caribbean (Red Lead Press, 2008).
Summary of Caribbean-Flavoured Presbyterianism: Education as a Prescription for Socio-Political Development 1868-2008.
The book encapsulates critical periods in Trinidad’s history and incorporates the sociological and historical processes which helped shape the island’s educational system. It focuses on the parallels between educational and socio-political developments as Trinidad underwent noteworthy changes from a British West Indian colony to a self-governing territory, later gaining Independence and achieving Republican status.
Caribbean-Flavoured Presbyterianism highlights two issues, firstly, the monumental changes experienced in a colonial society with the accompanying birth pangs in the emergence of an independent nation and the unfolding panoramic view of the history of the Presbyterian Church particularly in education.
Thus, the political and socio-economic forces that were shaping the colony were also influencing the future of Presbyterian institutions. Secondly, it serves to highlight the historical forces of continuity and change that were influencing the Presbyterian educational system. For instance, in the late nineteenth century, the ‘temporary conversion’ of non-Christians to gain acceptance as teachers in Presbyterian primary schools was a problem which continued to afflict the Presbyterian Church in the twentieth century.
Another aspect of continuity has been the inseparable relationship between religion and education in the Presbyterian institutions whilst an easily identified example of change would be the increasing role of students, parents and alumnae in the functioning of the Presbyterian schools.
The work will also offer revisionist perspectives on certain controversial areas such as the role of the missionaries in conversion and the seemingly sparse Afro-Trinidadian presence in its schools and churches.
The book will be on sale at the office for $25 and Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh will be available to autograph copies.
