Dear Editor

It’s amazing that teachers are not worshipped as Jesus Christ, given the miracles some people expect from them. A class of 45-60 students to one teacher, having to buy chalk and dusters regularly because the school is not adequately funded, students going to school with no lunch money, are from abusive homes and violent communities, face poor transportation, etc, are conditions the average teacher has to deal with. Yet they are still able to graduate students that are competent and can function in society, but despite overcoming all these odds they are still demonised constantly.

Many people treat schools like day-care centres where they just drop off their kids on their way to work and later pick them up on their way home, without the slightest regard to what transpires during school hours. If their child is sick they dump them off at school because they cannot afford to stay home and care for them. Thank God for the many competent school nurses who have been doing their best to tend to their ailments. Some of you wouldn’t mind if summer school was held during the Christmas break.

Parents, if you are fair, you would realise that the teachers are among the very few who are still giving value for money despite their meagre salary. Many teachers are going way beyond the call of duty so that our children can excel, but how many of you can see that? The average teacher can barely afford a car much less to maintain it, and even when they retire they run the risk of losing their home because they are still paying mortgage and the pension can barely cover it.

Look at the many retired teachers who still have to be living from hand to mouth while you sit in the lap of luxury and criticise their selfless sacrifices. Why shouldn’t teachers strive for a better standard of living, especially since they are the closest thing to a mother or father for most of these children? Parents, it’s time you take responsibility for your own failings and stop using teachers as scapegoats.

Wayne Johns

jhns_wyn@yahoo.co.uk