IGNORANT OPINIONS REGARDING TEACHERS’ STRIKE
This letter is a response to Ruth-Ann Stewart’s myopic and fallacious opinions in her letter published in the Gleaner on March 14, 2018. It seems Ms. Stewart resides in the pockets of teachers to know that they are ‘being paid a salary that can support them monthly.’ If you are not privy to the details regarding someone’s salary, then you are in no position to make baseless assumptions. Opinions must be supported with facts. Furthermore, for one to assume that to graduate from a University with a degree, in Jamaica, is synonymous to having a hefty salary once employed, is to be completely blind to the realities we face in Jamaica.
I would invite the public, Miss Stewart included, to do some research into the actual salaries offered to those who are employed with a first degree in the private sector and those in the public sector, especially teachers. You will find that private sector workers are paid far more than public sector workers with the same qualifications. Also, I wish the government would make the public aware of the agreement it made with us on this matter. The government signed an agreement with us many years ago, stating, that since they are unable to pay us for what we are qualified – that is the equivalent of those in the private sector – we are given certain non-monetary benefits such as a long vacation leave or study leave. Hence, the fact is, teachers are NOT being paid according to their qualifications.
Teachers have laid a profound legacy on their students and therefore deserve to be exalted in their profession not belittled. These mentors guarantee a society of continued innovation by educating the children who will lead the nation. Therefore, the government should invest more money and resources in ensuring that those who take interest in this field are not daunted by factors surrounding a pay gap. Teachers are not asking the government for an unrealistic increase but one that is deserving, especially in the light of the rapidly rising inflation.
Certainly, there are ‘people graduating from tertiary institutions who can't get a job and wish that they could earn at least half of what teachers are earning’ , but to focus on that only is to make a poor analysis of the situation. Yes, I sympathize with those tertiary graduates. Certainly, earning something is better than nothing; but, that does not mean that any worker in this country should feel any inhibitions about exercising their constitutional right to protest. Have we forgotten what The Right Hon. Alexander Bustamante fought for and why?
Besides, yes! The ‘youths are hungry’ and as teachers we are more aware of this than anyone else, as we deal with them one on one daily and make sacrifices to assist them. I guess the teachers are ‘inconsiderate’ (as Ms. Stewart puts it) to feed these children with knowledge, deprive ourselves each day to ensure that students without lunch get a hot meal to eat, and money to take the bus home. I guess we are irresponsible when we meet with students long after school hours to ensure they understand a topic, or to offer words of encouragement when the “homework hard, Miss”. Certainly, this is very selfish behavior. Isn’t it?
Teachers are compensated disproportionately for their hard work and are disrespected by many people. Many teachers can attest to working long before daybreak and long after sunset and even when school is on break. Be reasonable. With all this hard and important work, teachers deserve more.
Written by
S. Shaw-Clarke
Shernette Shaw- Clarke
Comments
Post a Comment