Mingling with ordinary folks

Tshwarelo Hosia | Monday September 9, 2024 09:41

I enjoy the ease with which people thrash a wide spectrum of issues, be it politics, religion, sports, and many more. There is no doubt about their sense of humour, stortelling prowess and the ability to make extra ordinary pronouncements on any discipline.

Well, learning is indeed a continuum that knows neither end nor territorial boundaries. To be honest, I always emerge from a public transport traveling experience much wiser than before. In this particular ride, sitting next to me was a young mother who was kept on her toes by her restless, hyperactive, and ebullient girl-child.

Having had enough of her child’s endless adventures displayed with no lack of effort both in the public transport and home, the mother disclosed with a sigh of relief that “schools would be reopening the next day and that only then would her home begin to know peace. I listened to this with mixed feelings. As a teacher, I nearly fell into the temptation of rebuking her for unashamedly and intentionally choosing to skirt her child rearing duties and rather exerting so much pressure and stress on the teachers.

But I chose to exercise restraint. Without necessarily disclosing my intimate association with the teaching profession, I politely asked if she were consciously and deliberately transferring what seemed to be a problem to a school and whether she did not think that teachers equally deserve peace? Her answer was an emphatic yes, adding that there was nothing wrong with teachers taking this responsibility because she said the teachers were paid and trained to deal with issues stemming from youthful exuberance. That was enough to get me some insight into how deep parental faith is in the teachers teaching their children.

It clearly shows the breadth and depth of the teaching profession. Much as there is an iota of truth in the fact or perception that parents are overloading teachers with responsibilities which are not theirs, it makes one a proud teacher to know that this profession redeems and saves those students perceived beyond redemption. Yes, it is a truism that some parents may be shirking their parental duties and overbuderdening the teaching profession in the process. But it is a motivating factor to realise that this profession makes the impossible possible and can restore hope in moments of despair.

As a teacher, instead of being discouraged, I felt emboldened to do more and much better to touch lives in a profound way. Nothing gives content to parents than seeing a positive change in the story line of their children, how they view their studies and life in general. Teaching should never relent in its nation building mission, which task requires going deeper and beyond navigation and transmission of curriculum matters. What is clear is that the society we live in has high expectations of teachers, not only to successfully offer quality classroom instruction but also to rise to the challenge to fix what is broken at home. Alan Paton, the architect of the famous Cry the beloved Country, must have seen this situation when he said in the text that “what God has not done for South Africa, man must do.” In the eyes of the world, parents should be in the forefront in moulding their children and guiding them towards their purpose in life. But not all parents are doing well in this endeavour.

Limitations experienced at home should not dent the future of children. Failing to execute their parental responsibilities leaves a vacuum that schools are now forced to close. Children coming from dysfunctional families equally have a right to a good education. And schools must position themselves to inspire all children to succeed regardless of their backgrounds. The question now lies with readiness on the part of the teaching profession to rise to the occasion and strive to meet parental expectations in this regard. Ever desiring to upgrade the quality of teaching and learning, teachers should relish any opportunity to get feedback from their customers. What customers can not openly tell through formal engagements, they would always do in less formal settings.