A raw deal for teachers
published: Tuesday | February 11, 2003
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WOULD like to use this opportunity to respond to the article written by Ms. Karren Foster, "Give Teachers Due Respect", dated Friday, February 7, 2003. I am sure that when Alexander Bustamante was fighting for better conditions and he opened his shirt and said, "Shoot me...", many persons did not agree with his action.
After his arrest, many might have said, "how could a man of such nobility behave in such a way, he could have behaved better, how could such a man lead a country." BUT, he did, and for his many other good deeds was knighted and given the post of National Hero.
I personally know this teacher and she works seven days per week to improve the educational level of children that some people consider "slow learners", children who it was said "can't pass an exam", children whom other teachers had given up on because of one reason or another become successful for traditional high schools every year. She is one of those teachers who can "raise the dead" so to speak.
I have seen children that she has taught to read in one year who came to her at a grade three (3) reading level, passed the GSAT for many of Jamaica's top high schools; these said children who later came back to show their passes in CXC. When it comes to a teacher who can motivate children to learn she is an excellent example. So, if it takes one individual like that teacher to stand up like our National Hero to fight for better wages of teachers I'm in agreement with her.
We have been talking, waiting and using the proper medium of communication but to no avail. How long must we suffer? How long can we go on allowing the minority to keep us down? You have bashed the one person who has stroked a chord in you and others, which has caused you to write a letter that expresses our struggle and dreams. I would like to tell her thanks openly, because if she had said it any other way it would have had no meaning.
