Letter of the day - Teachers are being 'dissed'!
published: Sunday | February 2, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHY IN heaven's name, should I, or any other teacher teaching overseas, return to teach in Jamaica? Or why should any teacher remain teaching in Jamaica? Too many teachers are unable to do their jobs properly for fear of upsetting certain students and/or their loutish relatives and friends.
These children, however, are just a product of the Jamaican society: a society, which idolises the culture of guns and gunmen, and thrives on badmanism. Imagine, a schoolboy demanding protection money from other students! The Government diss teachers, the JTA diss them, parents diss them and now even students diss them. Pray tell me, what then, if any, is the value of the Jamaican teacher in Jamaica?
If teachers are going to be treated with such scant regard and utter disdain, then what hope is there for the future of the nation's education? Teachers cannot be expected to properly train, motivate, mentor and even baby-sit these students and at the same time, live in fear of them. These students must be made to understand that they cannot do their own thing. They must understand that authority is to be respected at all times.
But, what can the poor little teacher do when oftentimes there is no authority in the homes? We are a society that is swarming with single-parent homes, visiting dads, and most significantly, deadbeat dads. It is high time that we Jamaican men realise that our children need love and guidance. They also need good role models, and what better role models for children can there be than their own parents?
