Intimidation by parents
published: Thursday | February 21, 2008
The Editor, Sir:
The president of the National Parents' Association is condemning the action taken by the teachers of the Ocho Rios High School over allegation of abuse of a teacher by a parent. I am totally in disagreement of the stand taken by the National Parents' Association.
One of the things I learnt at teachers' college is, as a teacher, you need to ensure that you create an environment conducive for learning; and teachers never fail to provide this environment and as such produced some of the greatest achievers. However, the learning environment must be conducive for teachers to teach and when teachers are working in an environment that they are in fear of their lives, then something is wrong with the stand taken by the National Parents' Association.
Teachers never fail to put the education of students first because that is our only purpose for being in the classroom; but when our lives are being threatened, then what do parents expect us to do? Should we just sit down and play dead? Should we be bullied by parents and students?
Stand up for discipline
To my colleagues, let us stand up for discipline and let us not be intimidated by parents and students. Teachers are tired of some parents and some students making our lives a living hell. So I say to the president of the National Parents' Association that she needs to encourage her members to help create that environment which is conducive for learning.
