FIFTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Bernett Afflick was the life of Morant Bay High School in St Thomas, but his heart expanded way beyond the boundaries of the classroom.
Tears from fellow educators, students and members of the community when they got news that the information technology teacher was killed Tuesday in a motor vehicle accident on the Yallahs main road, while on his way to school, tell the story of man who is well loved and who will be sadly missed.
Afflick’s colleagues, who expressed sadness at his demise, said they cannot imagine finding another teacher to replace him.
“He was the nerve centre of Morant Bay High School. When he left, [it is like] the entire information technology department,” said principal Alice Kumar. She said students doing CSEC and CAPE examinations as well as his colleague teachers have suffered a big loss.
“He his a super-user, therefore, he is the one we call upon for anything that has to do with exam entries or matters relating to SBAs (School Based Assessment) and anything of that nature. When we have graduation and award services he is the one who normally does the programmes,” Kumar added.
She said that Afflick even developed a system that produced documents for the Ministry of Education and overseas examinations office.
The principal told the Jamaica Observer that the school community has suffered a great loss.
“I hope and pray that he had shared his knowledge and wisdom with the IT teachers so that we can continue on that path because external exams take up a lot of time,” she said.
The Yallahs police reported that approximately eight o’clock on Tuesday morning Afflick was riding his motorcycle in an easterly direction when a grey Toyota Corolla taxi travelling in the opposite direction made a right turn at an intersection, into the path of the motorcycle. Afflick died from injuries he received in the collision.
The driver of the motor car was taken into custody and warned for prosecution but was later released. He was scheduled yesterday to report to the Yallahs police with his attorney.
The principal, noting that Afflick was a dedicated, well-rounded individual who would remain on the compound volunteering his services, said that he was approachable. He joind the staff in 2000.
“The relationship with the students, especially the sixth-formers, I think, was more than a teacher-student relationship. It was like a father or a father/daughter relationship,” the principal said. Some students, she said, broke down when they received news of the teacher’s death.
Principal Kumar, meanwhile, is hoping that Afflick’s passing will not affect external examinations as he taught three fifth-form classes.
Mathematics master teacher Beverly Hyatt, and guidance counsellor Lesa James-Richardson also spoke highly of the late teacher.
“…Everyone calls on him for anything IT-related, and he never frown. He worked beyond the call of duty at all times, so he will be greatly missed,” Hyatt said.
“He was a fun person. He always laughed loudly when playing chess,” said Hyatt. She added that he was a “God-fearing person” and would always discuss religious matters. “He will be sadly missed.”
Condolences
So sad.