I write this as an ex-teacher and headmaster of 40 years’ experience, whose family has been involved with education for many years. A recent comment in one of the newspapers that the dropping of OBE was not a cure-all has prompted me to write in support. While acknowledging the inequalities in education, one has at the same time to give credit to the role played by dedicated teachers. Apart from the hard work in the classroom, true teachers willingly participate in helping to organise sport and cultural activities. It seems to me that many teachers today are in it for all the wrong reasons.

My gripe with teachers is that many of them always seem to view the teaching profession as something that’s gone to the dogs. I suppose I’m generalising here, because even in the work place (i.e. business) there are people who absolutely despise their jobs to the point of rather wanting to work on a kibbutz or log pine trees somewhere in remote Siberia while drinking vodka and singing the “Volga Boatmen’s Song”.

“Die geld is te min, die geld kom te laat in die maand, die geld hou nie tot die volgende maand nie en die verhogings is te klein!”. Dit is die klagte van onderwysers. Ek het egter gou agter gekom waaroor dit eintlik gaan. Dit gaan nie, net, oor geld nie, maar eintlik gaan dit oor ‘n gebrek aan waardering.

It’s amazing how learners, parents, even teachers themselves, are still grappling with the answer to a big question that is frequently yet silently asked to the ordinary teacher: “Was teaching your chosen job, or your calling?”. Is it a fictitious dream or ideology for teachers to move up the remuneration ranks without leaving their calling?

If you’re a teacher reading this column heading with shock and disgust then hang in there. I do know how to spell and my grammar is about as good as any 24 year old, technically-savvy, sms generation man. I matriculated at SACS High School in 2004 after spending both my junior and high school careers at the oldest school in South Africa.

Malcolm Venter
Years ago, I came home with a delightful little book entitled Bureaucrats: How to Annoy Them. The author, who loathes bureaucrats with a deep, deep loathing , relates some hilarious tales about how he set out to annoy British bureaucrats – a sort of revenge saga. Knowing that I have similar sentiments about these [...]