THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE in this country who have a lot to say about teachers, and most of them have not taught one single day in their lives.
Teachers have to be lawyers, nurses, counsellors, guards, mediators, babysitters; and the list goes on. Now I don’t agree with the language used in the video that Sherriann Norris posted, but I fully understand her frustration and most of what was said is true. What Norris did was share what many teachers have been thinking.
I believe the majority of teachers go way beyond the call of duty for their students. For instance, many teachers give up most of their Easter vacation to help children with their school-based assessments. Many drive children to do interviews and conduct research in their own vehicles without asking for gas, and give extra classes during their free time.
When I was a teacher, I received calls after 11 p.m. from parents seeking advice on how to deal with their children. I once received a call around 2 a.m. from a student who hadslipped in the bath and was bleeding. She was afraid and called me. She later had a miscarriage.
I have met with parents at the top of their gaps after hours to advise them on situations regarding their children and how to deal with them. I have held my own form level meetings on Sundays to facilitate parents who missed the school’s. I provided refreshments as well.
I held awards in my class and gave video games, money, vouchers and trophies – all out of my money. I personally have bought clothing, food, provided stationery and money for students. I know teachers who have taken children from parents who could not provide for them and raised them as their own. These examples I have mentioned do not come close to things many teachers continue to do for their students.
Teachers are given two single markers – yes, two – for the entire term, which means they have to buy their own. They buy most of the other resources they use as well. Many use their own printers and paper for worksheets and assignments.
Yes, teachers are frustrated with the behaviour of children, but I can tell you with surety that they are more frustrated with the attitudes of some parents and some aspects of the education system.
Norris does represent the type of teachers in the system. Teachers represent all types of people – rich, poor, middle class, disciplined, indisciplined, smokers, gamblers, partyers, church-goers, Christians, Rastas, Muslims, atheists, straight, gay, confused, trained, untrained, kind, selfish, mannerly, stuck-up; and the list goes on.
Principals, teachers and other staff are threatened, assaulted, have their vehicles scratched, stories fabricated to destroy their integrity and are disrespected. Yet they go out of their way daily for their students and return every day to teach them.
Teachers, I know we are adults and have a personal life, but in the eyes of our students, we will always be their teachers and they expect a certain type of behaviour from us – whether we are at the supermarket, beach, in Town, at a fete or cinema, on social media or in church. Students have in their minds what examples their teacher should set and how they should “behave”.
Some of my past female teachers tell me to stop calling them Ma’am, but I struggle not to because in my eyes, they are still my teachers. Although I am an adult, I just cannot picture my teachers behaving or speaking in a way that is not respectful or professional. Why? Because they are my teachers.
I see my past students in the mall, on the bus, in Town, at church, at meetings and on Facebook and I feel so proud to have contributed to their development. Each time they see me they call me “Sir” and I tell them to call me Worrell, but they don’t. Why? In their eyes, I will always be their teacher.
So, to my colleagues in the profession, we are not to live based on other people’s expectations but, in our students’ eyes, we are expected to lead by example and display behaviours they would want to model and emulate – even if they never tell us this. It may seem unfair but teachers are always held to a higher standard than other professionals.
Don’t get vexed; it just shows our value to society.
• Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development. Email: [email protected]
