January 5, 2006
 

Mr. Oswald Brown
Editor
The Freeport News
Freeport, Grand Bahama

Dear Sir:

I write to you on a matter that concerns/affects hundreds of individuals – the educators of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.  This letter embraces the thoughts of many and is addressed to   the Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, The Hon. Alfred Sears, and The Hon. Fred Mitchell ….. and all else who have an interest in the development and the advancement of education in this commonwealth.

For years I have read and/or listened to and even partaken in discussions regarding educators and their salaries.  There are some (not educators, of course) who believe that teachers are not deserving of raises, basing their argument on the following:
(1) Persons in the teaching profession work less hours than those in other professions;
(2) Persons in the teaching profession have long vacations; and the most ignorant of all, a direct quote from another professional:
(3) “Teachers are lousy and they don’t deserve raises.”

Let me first address the matter concerning work hours.  Most persons believe that the teacher’s work day begins at 9 and ends at 3.  Let me assure you that this is not the case.  Visit a teacher’s home on any given weekend when school is in session and you’re bound to find him/her marking papers/books or planning lessons for the ensuing week.  How many other professionals are required to take work home?  How many other professionals actually plan out an entire week’s work (and I don’t mean in their heads, I mean on paper) just incase (God forbid) something happens and another teacher has to take over those classes?  I have served as an educator for over 18 years and I have yet to have the privilege to begin my work day at 9 and for it to end at 3.

For the record, teachers do not, as do other professionals, have a lunch hour; we have a lunch break, and teachers, with few exceptions, spend this break on campus.  Imagine the chaos if the teachers left the school unattended during the lunch break! Does any other establishment expect its employees to remain on the job during his/her lunch break?  We could solve this problem by insisting that parents make alternate arrangements for their children during lunch; i.e. collect the students at the beginning of lunch and return them at the end for the afternoon’s lesson.
 

Granted, the argument might be that we have less contact time with our students than other professionals spend at their jobs but consider the nature of our profession.  Most teachers, in the high school, are scheduled to teach at least 4 out of 5 classes per day.  On some days teachers are required to teach 5 out of the 5 classes.  That means 4 or 5 classes multiplied by 40 students, translated 40 personalities, with varying abilities.  As a doctor if I was able to see 160 patients per day at say $50 per patient, well, you do the math!

And now the matter of long vacations…..  On an average, in a large government high school, a teacher is directly responsible for some 200 students, in any given term/semester.  (Most parents complain about the long vacations because they don’t want the responsibility of minding or tending to their own children during the school’s vacation time.) By the end of the term teachers need a rest – a time to rejuvenate – review – re-focus.  During short breaks, Christmas and Easter, the conscientious teacher (and there are many) will juggle between jollification and preparation for the upcoming term.  During the longest break, teachers review the past year, revise teaching strategies, prepare workbooks, and plan for the upcoming school year, after teaching Vacation Bible School.

And finally the statement that really infuriates, “Teachers are lousy and they don’t deserve raises.”  While I agree that there are some lousy educators, in both private and public schools, I would argue that members of the teaching profession are merely a microcosm of the society at large.  There exists within our community “lousy” doctors, “lousy” nurses, “lousy” attorneys,  “lousy” police officers, “lousy” bankers, “lousy” realtors, “lousy” secretaries, “lousy” accountants, “lousy” hoteliers, “lousy” politicians, etc., simply put, within our society are some “lousy” people.

I contend that teachers are “lousy” because the parents say so.  Let me explain! As a child I never heard any parent/adult speak ill of a teacher.  Teachers were revered.  Some could have been ne’er do wells but the matter was never discussed with children.  When parents degrade teachers in the presence of their children, they undermine the teachers’ authority, thereby making their children “unteachable”.
 

Teachers are blamed when children don’t learn to read, write, and/or add.  The ultimate responsibility for getting children “school ready” lies with the parents.   Educate is derived from the Latin word “educare” which literally translated means to draw out.  Learning can only occur when children have references and experiences on which to draw.  Children learn what they live – a child will not learn to appreciate the value of a book if he/she never sees a parent read and/or is never read to. The onus of providing these invaluable experiences and references is on the parents.  The number of seemingly illiterate and innumerate school leavers is staggering and unfortunate but most teachers are doing the best they can with what they have.
 
All teachers are saddened at the low rate of literacy and numeracy, but they cannot be held solely responsible for this state.  What of the responsibility of the parents?  Firstly, I learned to read at home.  Secondly, my parents ensured that I attended school each day, barring any illness or other emergency that warranted me staying away.  There is a direct correlation between attendance at school and parental involvement and achievement. Students and parents must be fully engaged in the learning process.
 

In support of the argument to deny teachers raises, the question was posed, “Do you know how many students leave school and can’t fill out a job application?”

We get blamed for ALL the failures - but we are rarely credited with the successes or thanked for our contributions.  Many teachers reach into their pockets to buy breakfast, lunch, books, pens, etc. for students who come to school hungry, without lunch money and without basic school supplies.  Teachers invest hundreds of dollars yearly from their meager salaries purchasing books, posters, charts, etc., to enhance their students’ learning experience.  Teachers are continuously learning new information and new strategies through workshops and classes, which they pay for from their salaries. Countless teachers spend time after school and on weekends to help students prepare for external exams enabling them to compete in the job/college arena.  Teachers preach at, talk to and plead with students to try to do better for themselves.  I know many of such teachers because I have the privilege of working with a dedicated group at Jack Hayward High School.

Teachers agonize when students fail.  They go to great lengths to help their students succeed.   Teachers are some of the most qualified and best prepared for their profession but are probably the least paid.

“Do you know how many students leave school and can fill out a job application and/or college application?”

Do you know how many of the prominent doctors, nurses, priests, attorneys, police officers, bankers, realtors, secretaries, accountants, and yes even teachers were taught by teachers? Just a wild guess, off the top of my head – ALL!  In the Bahamian vernacular – “Erry last one a dem.”

So you don’t think teachers deserve raises?  In lieu of a raise, might I suggest that a special, discount card be given to all teachers/educators.  This card will be presented at the grocers, gas stations, utility companies, doctors’ offices, lawyers’ offices, customs and will ensure a hefty discount on every item purchased.

Further, to parents and others who appreciate the educational crisis, may I humbly suggest the following:
(1) Make education a priority in your home;
(2) Instead of buying cell phones for your children – buy books;
(3) Don’t let your first visit to the school be a mandatory visit – don’t wait until your child is being expelled to introduce yourself;
(4) Don’t blame the teacher if your child didn’t do his/her homework because he/she doesn’t have the book that you didn’t buy;
(5) Teach your child to respect authority, to be responsible and to accept the consequences of his/her actions;
(If you don’t teach him/her to respect authority he/she will meet up with an authority that will force him/her to.)
(6) Share the blame of your child’s failure with your child;
(7) Don’t reward mediocrity;
(8) Take charge of your children – be the parent!
(9) Don’t wait until Report Card Day to find out your child is failing; and finally
(10) Yes, your child does have homework.

Keep agitating for teachers not to get a raise then watch and wait.  Watch all the male teachers leave the profession to secure jobs that will allow them to adequately provide for their families.  Watch the good teachers leave to more financially rewarding professions.  The crux of the matter is that teachers also need to survive.   Put the question to today’s students about career choices – very few want to teach - “because teachers don’t make any money”.

 
Yes. I know we chose the profession, in some cases the profession even called us, but the reality is that some people simply cannot afford to stay in the profession. The starting salary of a trained teacher with a Ph. D. is $25,100 per annum. Needless to say, qualified teachers with lesser degrees are paid less.  I am a qualified teacher with a Masters Degree and 18 years of teaching experience but if I told you my salary you’d be laughing all the way to the bank.
 

Thank you for allowing me space in your daily.

Sincerely,
Denise D. Sherman
M.A., B. Sc., T.C.