Carlyle Arnold Glean, Sir

Carlyle Arnold Glean was born on February 11, 1932, to Olive McBurnie and George Glean, both of Gouyave, St. John. His first months were spent in Gouyave, and his early formative years in Belmont, St. George's. He attended the Grand Anse R.C. School from 1937 to 1943, where he was a cub scout. His mother tutored him from an early age and he became very fond of books. He returned to Gouyave in 1943, at which time he was admitted to Class V of the St. John's R.C. School where he excelled at his studies. He had two unsuccessful attempts at the Under 16 scholarship examinations in 1946 and in 1947; at which time he was attending the St. John's CD&W (Colonial Development and Welfare) Teacher Training Centre, Gouyave. He successfully completed the three-year programme there and topped the list at the 3rd Year Examination in 1949.

Mr. Glean was appointed a Student Teacher at the St. John's R.C. School, January 1950, and in 1951 he passed the Senior Cambridge Examination, obtaining a Grade II certificate. In 1952, he was appointed a Second Class Teacher. Mr. Glean got married to Norma DeCoteau, a teacher at the same school, in April 1955. The passage of Hurricane Janet later in September 1955, seriously affected his family. He migrated to England in February 1956. During his stay in England, Mr. Glean worked as a bus conductor with London Transport. He started a correspondence course leading to the ACP (Associate of the College of Preceptors) but was unable to complete it. He returned to Grenada in September 1960.

He rejoined the staff of the St. John's R.C. School in October 1960, and was appointed Tutor in Classroom Management and Instruction in 1961, for the St. John's/St. Mark's In-service Teacher Education Programme. He attended seminars and workshops conducted by local and visiting facilitators. In 1963, Mr. Glean was named Teacher-in- Charge of the Senior Department and in 1964, acted as Principal of the Happy Hill R.C. School. In September of that year, he was accepted at Grenada's Teachers' College for the one-year programme leading to the University of the West Indies Trained Teacher's Certificate. He was President of the Students' Council.

Mr. Glean returned to his former position at the St. John's R.c. School. In January 1967, he was appointed Principal of Happy Hill R.C. School. However, his term was brief, as in September, he was awarded a CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) scholarship to the University of Calgary, Canada, where he successfully completed the Bachelor of Education Degree (1967 - 1970), majoring in Social Studies.

He returned to Grenada in April 1970, and served a three-month stint as acting Principal of St. John's Christian Secondary School (May-July). In September, he was appointed Tutor, Grenada Teachers' College, where he taught Social Studies and Education. In 1972, Mr. Glean was awarded a one year Graduate Teaching Assistant Scholarship by the University of Calgary to do a Master of Arts Degree in Education, majoring in Curriculum and Instruction, with emphasis on Social Studies.

On his return to Teachers' College in 1973, he was appointed Vice-Principal, then Principal, in 1974. Mr. Glean took up an appointment in December, 1976, as the first Lecturer in Social Studies Education at the Faculty of Education, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. In that capacity, he worked closely with the Social Studies Tutors at the Teachers' Colleges in the OECS and Barbados.

With his interest in classroom interaction, he applied for, and was awarded a British Council Scholarship in 1981 to pursue a Master of Arts Degree in Education at the Department of Applied Research, University of East Anglia, U.K. He successfully completed the programme in 1982 and returned to Cave Hill. He was a member of the Social Studies panel of CXC and an Assistant Chief Examiner 1979 - 1984. Mr. Glean returned to Grenada from Barbados in September 1986.

Mr. Glean and his wife Norma have five surviving children (Corinne, Carlyle Jr., Susan, Patricia, and Rose-Anne), and fifteen grandchildren. Their second child, Arlene, died in November 1981.

Community

Mr. Glean became involved in many groups in his youth and adulthood. In the 1950's he was the facilitator/tutor for the Sea Folks Club, Gouyave, which consisted of underprivileged children. He was a member of the Apex Boys Club, which sponsored games and cultural activities. That club also funded a scholarship for a needy student to attend secondary school.

Mr. Glean was a foundation member and secretary of the St. John's Citizens' Association, 1961 - 1966. The Association organized sporting, cultural and educational activities in the parish. It also awarded two scholarships to needy students to attend secondary school.

More recently, Mr. Glean served as a volunteer tutor at Newlo (New Life Organisation) 1995 - 2003, working with new trainees in the Adolescent Development Programme (ADP), in the area of Family Life Education and Social Studies.

He also served as Chairman of the Hillsview Home Management committee, 1997 - 2007.

Church Affiliation

Mr. Glean, a Catholic, served on his parish Church Committee in the 1960's, and for the period 1993 - 2001. He also served on the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and later became a member of the Catholic Central Board of Management (CCBM). He was an Extraordinary Minister, a Cursillista, Coordinator of the Gouyave Catholic Men's Group and choir, and a member of the Coordinating Team for the Men's Eucharistic Passover.

Political Affiliation

Mr. Glean became associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1987, and later became a member and chairman of the St. John's Branch. He contested the 1990 elections but was unsuccessful. However, the NDC formed the Government and he was appointed a Senator and the Minister of Education. During the first year, he was made Leader of Government Business and, after the 1995 General Elections, he became the Senior Opposition Senator. He resigned from the Senate in 1998. He also served as General Secretary, and later, as Deputy Chairman of the NDC.

Sir Carlyle Glean served Grenada, with distinction, as Governor General, from 2008 to 2013, before retiring to his home in St. John.