Teacher Bashing
Has Barbados lost its reason? Nearly every week Barbados is greeted with news of runaway teenagers, violence in schools, and illicit sexual behaviour among teenagers. Yet, the public discourse from the most official to the lowest levels, is pervaded by a virulent anti-teacher sentiment.
While teachers from Trinidad and Tobago have the unqualified support of the judicial system in responding to threats of student-on-teacher violence, Barbadian newspapers, government ministers and “parents” have taken the opposite road, becoming the guardians of juvenile delinquency and isolating teachers as the public enemy.
In response to concerns by the Barbados Secondary Teachers Union (BSTU) over a reported incident of student-on-teacher violence, the Nation newspaper responded with a bold headline: “Student not aggressor”. Instead of detailing the expected catalogue of unfair treatment against the student, we were treated to an article which echoed the voice of a petulant teenager: “the student spat at, not on the teacher”. There is a kind of citizen who will shoot at the police, and a kind of student who will spit at a teacher. The role of a responsible government, press and public is to avoid standing on the wrong side of appropriateness.
But some deeper questions need to be asked? Why has the traditional Caribbean value system which upheld the teacher as a pillar of respect in the society been scuttled? Why has the expected rallying by press, public and politician to the defence of teachers at the slightest hint of student misbehaviour, not been forthcoming?
One answer resides in the emergence of cheap populism substituting as genuine leadership in a context where politicians have little concrete evidence to show by way of economic development success. Thus, to gain points, otherwise unspectacular politicians find it convenient to tap into public anti-teacher sentiments to appear “progressive”.
Another related answer resides in the now dominant, anti-worker, anti-union sentiment pervading Barbados, a flame fanned by the government itself.
Among workers, the condition of teachers is perhaps the most totally exploitative, with little separation between public and private life. This reality is translated into public disrespect for teachers who are viewed as glorified nannies, janitors, and security-guards. When teachers strike the public is inconvenienced because there is no one to look after the children. Politicians prey opportunistically on these sentiments.
When it is a case of violence against the police, the entire public is outraged. In a case of violence against the teacher, the consensus collapses, weakened by petty politics, anti-union sentiments, and cheap anti-teacher populism. It is for this reason that politicians and education officials (themselves former unionists) are unable to find the courage to defend teachers.
No wonder the unions have now had enough. Cheap populism is no substitute for genuine leadership. When you sow the wind, prepare to reap the whirlwind. Will the genuine societal leaders please stand up?
CNIDOH/AO
