Dear Editor,
It’s a shame that teachers have to be belittled every time they muster the courage to expose any incompatible relationship between them and a principal or even those who are in charge of education.
How is it that teachers can never get the support that is needed to maintain an amicable relationship? Why do they always get the brunt of the blame? This is unacceptable! If teachers are discouraged, how can they inspire students to manage their own social and emotional lives?
The situation at PSVE is being mishandled by board members, who feel that they are untouchable. I admire the intellectual and educational capacities of the Chairman of the board, but his nonchalant and cocky responses regarding this situation tend to diminish his capability to maintain his current position. As a matter of fact, being on the board has always been a conflict of interest, since his spouse had occupied the rank as principal of the school.
I salute Michael Williams-Richardson for his article that appeared in The Daily Herald yesterday. He expressed his grievances from the soul; which should never be ignored, because he spoke for many parents, students and teachers. Parents do not understand the power that they have; therefore, they should quit being so complacent, by allowing a handful of persons to misrepresent and direct the educational path for their children.
The President of the Teacher’s Union should take a bold step and advise her members to stay home until the principal is being removed from her position. This situation has been brewing for quite a while because I have never heard one student or any of the teachers speak well of this principal. Children cannot learn in a hostile environment, so why allow them to suffer, just to satisfy the ego of a few braggadocios who are stagnating the process of excellence?
I am very surprised (but not really) of the Chairman's statements, when he has mentioned repeatedly that the Ministry of Education needs to reshuffle the educational system to meet the demands of today’s society. Yet, when the time came to match his actions with his words, the scenario became another disappointment, because he did not exhibit that excellence begins with an individual and not an organization.
This is why education is at an all-time low, because persons who are hired to oversee the smooth execution of education usually flex their muscles because they have the power to do so. It is for this very reason why so many teachers have lost respect for the former Minister of Education Silveria Jacobs. When she was in the classroom, she shared the same frustrations that teachers have expressed, but the moment she was settled in her new position, her views were shifted.
These types of situations have become major problems, due to gutless Ministers of Education who have allowed school boards to dictate the direction of education. The current state of affairs has revitalized my thoughts of the dire need to restructure the education system that would eliminate all school boards. The Ministry of Education should have the final say in disputes that concern students, teachers and parents.
Do we see why the cry for home-grown teachers is not yielding much success? It is because the majority of school leavers don’t want to prolong the stress that they have experienced; whether at the hands of schoolmates, teachers or principals. Besides, who wants to be told that they are there to do a job and that’s it? Where has the value of teachers gone, especially those who were called to the profession?
Teachers, it’s time to quit being pushed aside. Parents, now is your moment to stand in solidarity with teachers, who are seeking to be heard and to be respected by those who were given the authority to lead!
Joslyn Morton
