Stressed teachers need support
FINALLY, it has been acknowledged that teachers are experiencing difficulty and are emotionally stressed.
The department and parents don’t consider that we are teaching classes of over 40 pupils with different levels of understanding and different behavioural patterns, yet special and unique in their own way.
When we chose this profession we did so because we mimicked our own teachers when we were at school; we had great love for children and were passionate about teaching and moulding the future generation.
Sadly the increase in administrative work, disciplinary issues, no assistance from the department, continuous changes in teaching strategies, unsupportive parents, disruptive children and lack of resources have all created a negative impact on the teaching profession.
After corporal punishment was taken away, discipline in schools disappeared. Demerits and detention are not feared but mocked.
Children are sent to school with long fingernails, no stationary and terrible lunches. Some are just given money to buy from the tuckshops, that do not sell healthy food.
Children nowadays have no manners – it is so rare to hear please or thank you. They do not fear teachers, management or the rules of the school. They have a “don’t care” attitude towards schoolwork and homework.
There is no sympathy or understanding for what teachers experience from the time they enter the school gate till they go home.
Tired and frustrated, they have to still see to their families and their children’s homework.
But we are blamed when a child misbehaves or has poor academic results.
Our reward is not gifts or money because our salary is not equivalent to our workload.
No, our reward is when a child passes a test, completes their work and displays an understanding of what we taught, because in our hearts we are pleased and proud that this child has listened, learned and understands.
We mould your children daily for a better future for them and all we ask is your support.
We are the babysitters, nurses, teachers, parents, rolemodels and more for your children.
We teachers still love our job and treat our profession with the utmost respect and full dedication, yet its rarely acknowledged for its importance and role in a child’s life. Yet we continue to inspire and teach. We need your support.