Teachers need our support

AS YOU flip through the pages of newspapers, you read about acts of alleged corporal punishment. The hard-working educator is demonised and vilified for trying to make a small improvement in a learner’s life.

Teachers who use tough love are the dedicated educators who are willing to sacrifice everything to make a difference in a learner’s life.

Teachers are aware of Section 10 of the South African Schools Act which categorically stipulates that corporal punishment is outlawed.

In instances where a teacher does a section more than three, four or even five times and learners still do not comprehend the learning content, it becomes frustrating to a dedicated and renowned educator who is after results and not just a pay cheque.

If the education system in South Africa is analysed holistically, the inherent deficiencies are glaring.

Fundamentally, the reason could be apportioned to the lack of support given to educators. When anything negative happens in a school context, the teacher is castigated. When something good happens, the principal is praised.

If education is going to change, more support needs to be given to educators. Messing with an educator’s mindset is tantamount to destroying the motivation of dedicated educators.

Teachers are intelligent humans, instrumental in creating a brighter future for all. They do not target specific learners. Classroom sizes are too big to do that. If a child is being singled out, the child is not doing what is required of them in terms of syllabus coverage. A teacher can choose to ignore the learner and move on or try to make the learner understand the work being taught.

Only dedicated educators, hell-bent on making a difference at any length, will engage a child. The norm is to let it go and do nothing because of the denigration and vilification the teacher in question is receiving.

Let’s analyse the teacher-pupil ratio or the post-provisioning norms. The system is contradictory. The higher the number of learners enrolled in a school, the higher the level of the principal in terms of category and remuneration. There are more learners in a class because the principal wants a higher salary while, in most instances, level one educators have to deal with large classes.

Although teachers act in loco parentis, discipline, respect and good manners must be inculcated at home. The teacher’s job is to teach and not deal with irate and ill-disciplined learners whose motive is to disturb lessons and create a culture that is not conducive to learning.

Dedicated teachers understand the ambit of their duties. They do certain things that are beyond the call of duty, which can include punitive measures. The ultimate objective of an educator is to make a learner understand the learning content.

Let’s not fall into the trap of crucifying our educators. Instead evaluate methods of assisting your child.

It’s fashionable in this day and age to apportion blame to educators. If the demotivation and demoralisation of educators continue, children will be the biggest losers.

Teachers need your support. Work with our teachers. Stop vilifying, denigrating and demonising them. Look at our progress and where we are in our lives. If it was not for the sincerity and dedication of our selfless teachers, we would not be enjoying what we have.

VR SURUJPAL

Phoenix