I’m not allowed to give my opinion/suggestion about my secondary school’s mundane issues

During the past week a woman visited my workplace, a secondary school on the lower East Coast. I was in the staff room along with a few colleagues, and noticed her standing in the doorway. Usually, a visitor would ask for permission to enter, then proceed to the table of whomever he/she wish to speak with. However, a colleague immediately went to speak with her and a few minutes later returned. The woman was still standing in the doorway and suddenly barked at me, “Miss, don’t you know that this teacher has a problem with her foot?” I was so stunned at her tone of voice that I became speechless. Then she repeated her question in the same aggressive manner, and I told her she cannot speak to me like that. Then she said, ‘Come here!’ as if I were an errant child about to be disciplined. I told her that I will not ‘come here’ so she asked me my name and went to another part of the building. I didn’t know who she was, and not only was her conduct hostile, and caused me embarrassment in the presence of colleagues, but her question made no sense. If she had only asked the teacher why she walked a particular way, then she would have been informed that an old injury is the cause.

Soon after, I was summoned to the Head Teacher’s office, where the Head Teacher, the woman and several teachers were already seated, and the role of these teachers seemed to be that of spectators. Without missing a beat, I was told to sit and the lady immediately proceeded to question me. I was not told her name, reasons for questioning me, nor given prior notification about this meeting. I was forced to divulge personal information about myself to a stranger, and some teachers, who would have otherwise not been privy to certain information about me, because we are colleagues and not friends. And I’m sure that many teachers who were not present at the meeting are now aware of what was said. At one point each teacher in the room was asked for their opinion about me, and whether they had any issues with me, by this woman. In addition to being treated like a misbehaving child, apparently, as a public-school teacher, I do not have the right to privacy and confidentiality with my own information.

During the meeting the woman berated me about messages I’d posted in the teachers’ WhatsApp group, and a letter I gave to the Head Teacher. I was part of a WhatsApp group just for teachers of the school, and I did share my concerns in the group about workplace matters, such as a lack of furniture and timetable issues, which affected me. I was never told, nor was I aware, that I’m not allowed to give my opinion/suggestion or voice my concerns about mundane workplace issues with colleagues, nor give the administrator of my workplace a letter highlighting my concerns about ‘workplace issues’ that affect me, but expected to just follow instructions without question. Instead of a simple discussion between the Head Teacher and me (his teacher) as I expected, what I got was intimidation, humiliation and an attempt at silencing me for simply voicing an opinion and my concerns were never addressed. This lady even said to me that I should have removed myself from the teachers’ group if I couldn’t stay silent and keep my opinions to myself.

Editor, from what I observed and was told after by other teachers, this woman works at the Ministry of Education, 21 Brickdam location. Is it the policy of the Ministry of Education to produce and employ teachers that are sheep and ‘yes people’? Is it expected that teachers should not think, have opinions and want an improved education system? If, teachers are expected to be sheep, then they will mould a nation of sheep, easily frightened and compliant by a display of power. Editor, instead of intimidation and peacock power pageantry to get poor teachers shaking in their shoes, quieted and trembling like mice, the goals of the top brass should be loftier; maybe improving the learning experience of students and the conditions for both learners and teachers by actually listening to their concerns, which after all, come about because they care and want to see an improved education system.

Can you believe that all teachers are required to be in school during a pandemic, yet we haven’t even received a mask for 2022 from the education officials, we are supposed to wear these at all times, every day? And some teachers are teaching particular subjects yet weren’t even given a textbook for their own use in the classroom? There are so many issues which could easily be addressed and rectified, but are too numerous to list. If teachers don’t speak up, how are the ones with power and authority going to know what needs to be improved. Then again, it seems like the ones with authority do not want any speaking but silence, sheep and yes people!