EDITORIAL: Think before you teach
Teaching, like parenting, is one of the more important jobs in the world, and its impact is glaringly evident in the quality of young people living amongst us in society. It is for this reason that teaching should be considered a vocation and not merely an occupation; a purpose, and not just a job.
We therefore concur with the sentiments of Chairman of the Board of Management of Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, Dr. Sylvia Henry, who spoke recently at an orientation ceremony for the College’s students on the need for teachers to think carefully before committing to the profession. Dr. Henry warned that teachers who are not prepared to face the bold, new world of education, should rethink their career choice, adding: “We need teachers who will not hesitate to go beyond the call of duty.” She further opined that educators must value the philosophy that teaching goes beyond preparing students for examinations, as it is about preparing students for life.
Different outlook
Thankfully, this perspective has been taking root in Barbados’ education system in the recent past, but decades ago teaching was used as a stepping stone to other careers by young adults entering the world of work. Persons were accepted for employment with the minimum certificates required in a chosen subject and no formal training or interest in actually instructing children. In fact, a study on “Literacy and Numeracy in Select Countries in the Caribbean” found that, in addition to low academic and qualification requirements for teachers, “…Many beginning teachers with weak personal literacy and numeracy skills, and practical skills are assigned to teach students struggling with literacy and numeracy in early schooling”.
As stated before, this is not the case in Barbados presently, where the majority of teachers are all trained and certified as academic instructors. We further reiterate though that although personal motivation is unknown, individuals should be entering the teaching profession because they have a genuine passion for it and a love of children, and not just as a means to an end by way of earning money, or because jobs in their area of study are unavailable.
This calling requires persons who will hone their skills by exploring new, innovative techniques, accessing research from within the field of study, and continually improving their training. This would be crucial in addressing the changing learning environment whereby students are now faced with virtual classrooms and very different learning approaches to traditional schooling.
Transformation of system
This is not to say that the only room for improvement lies with teachers, because the very school model of teaching needs to be transformed if this country’s education system is to get back on top. These issues were addressed by the Minister of Education Santia Bradshaw at this same orientation ceremony, and also during TEN Habitat’s webinar ‘Future-Proofing Our Children: Are We Ready?’ by Programme Co-ordinator Antonio Hollingsworth.
In the final analysis, though the education system on a whole may have some major issues that need to be dealt with, teachers can start the ball rolling by making a change in themselves. It is true they are paid for their efforts, but some must also ‘act outside the box” and put the children as a priority, just as parents do, to ensure that the youth do not get the short end of the stick.