Graydon Sealy: The Legacy of an Influential Educator in Barbados

The education fraternity is mourning the passing of Graydon Sealy.

He was the first principal of the Garrison Secondary School when it was opened in 1975 and his name became permanently attached to the institution when it became Graydon Sealy Secondary School in 2012.

In her tribute, Prime Minister Mia Amr Mottley said he was part of the “special class of Bajan educators who did so much to change the fortunes of poor Barbadians”.

“As its first principal, he was afforded the privilege, and at the same time given the awesome responsibility, of fashioning the character of an institution that would thereafter hold the fortunes of many thousands of Barbadian children in its hands. The fact that almost four decades later his name and that of the school became one, can only be recorded as a recognition of his success.”

The full tribute is below:

There are 21 secondary schools dotting the landscape of Barbados — at least one in each parish. Whatever their flaws or weaknesses we cherish them because, as a society, we understand, appreciate and value their contribution to the upliftment of tens of thousands of ordinary Barbadian families.

Interestingly, though, even in the face of all this, we can still count on one hand the schools that bear the names of that special class of Bajan educators who did so much to change the fortunes of poor Barbadians.

Today, we mourn the passing of one such illustrious Barbadian to whom this society will always be indebted — Mr Graydon Sealy, the first principal of what was opened in 1975 as the Garrison Secondary School, but which was renamed in his honour in 2012.

As its first principal, he was afforded the privilege, and at the same time given the awesome responsibility, of fashioning the character of an institution that would thereafter hold the fortunes of many thousands of Barbadian children in its hands. The fact that almost four decades later his name and that of the school became one, can only be recorded as a recognition of his success.

And there is no doubt in my mind, as we embark on a process of education transformation, that Mr Sealy’s recognition back in the last quarter of the 20th Century of the systemic weaknesses in our education system, and his determination to do everything he could to overcome them, or at least work around them, was the saving grace for so many of our children, who today are making a remarkable contribution to our growth and development.

On behalf of the Government and people of Barbados, I extend sincere condolences to the Sealy family as well as the family of the Graydon Sealy Secondary School. May you all find solace in the story of his outstanding contribution to our country.

May his soul rest in peace. (PR/SAT)