Revision of Untaught Lessons

Anthony Kila writes about the need for government and the public to celebrate teachers as Thursday, October 5, was observed as World Teachers Day.

Dear Readers

Yesterday (Thursday, 5th of October 2023) was a working day, on a personal note where were you physically and mentally and what did you do normally and differently?

There is no right or wrong answers to these questions since they are about personal events and activities. Just facts.

Well, while you are considering my questions and your answers, here are two other facts to reflect on: One, you are reading my missive today because you can read.

Two you can read because someone or some people somewhere taught you how to read. Yes, it is easy to forget that we were not born readers, it is easy to forget that there was a time we could not read essays like this one, it is easy to forget that there are still people who cannot read.

I admit we were not taught to do so but I recommend that once in a while we pause to reflect on these facts so that we can remember that some of the things we have, can do and take for granted were and are still the wishes and prayers of others. Some of the things we have, can do and take for granted are fruit of the endeavours of some other people.

Yesterday, was another World Teachers Day. It is an event held annually on the same day every year to celebrate all teachers around the globe. It is an occasion designed to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the “1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers” across the globe.

The recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, standards for their initial preparation and further education, recruitment, employment as well as teaching and learning conditions.

If you are one of the very many, too many, people that did not remember the World Teachers Day, let alone do anything about it, it is okay, you will neither be penalized on earth nor go to hell for it.

You are in a popular but I think bad company of hundreds of millions. There were no streetlights, nor rallies, no holiday nor newspaper adverts to celebrate teachers. Yesterday, on the World Teachers Day, doctors just carried on treating, bankers went on counting, diners just read their menus and ordered food, writers went on writing and even some teachers went on teaching as if nothing happened with no thoughts of the teachers that taught them to treat, count, read, write and teach.

Save for some pockets of exceptions here and there, teachers are not celebrities so no one celebrates them.

The World Teachers Day is just a symbolic day though, the rot and damage are deeper. One of the biggest evils committed by modern society and perpetuated by contemporary society is our nonchalant attitude towards knowledge and those that made us know.

The consequences are clear for all to see and it varies from society to society in time and in space. Here is another untaught lesson we need to review: Across the world (countries) and in communities (such as clubs and associations), there is a correlation between the level of knowledge, respect and recognition accorded to teachers on one side and the level of wealth and orderliness on the other side.

Societies with little respect for teaching and teachers are also poorer and more prone to crime and disorder.

I am a teacher and I agree that “charity begins at home” so in identifying the origin and causes of the lack of appreciation of teaching and teachers we must start by looking inwards.

A sober and objective introspection will leave us with no option but to admit that whilst on one side many of us have done well in teaching subjects (at least most of our students can count, read and write), most of us have not done well in interpreting our roles as priests of the temple of knowledge.

We have not done enough in teaching our students (and consequently the world) that teachers are not just the key to knowledge and bridge to the realization of dreams and desire but are also makers of men, creators of leaders and custodians of our future.

Let us be clear, a teacher that cannot inspire is not worthy of the title “teacher”, especially when conceived as a maestro, a teacher that bullies, harasses or extorts students is an anathema to teaching.

What we teach at CIAPS is that teachers need to make sure that the school and the classroom are places to want to be not escape. Yes, I know many teachers feel overworked, underpaid, undervalued and I argue that this is partly because teachers have not valued themselves enough.

It is time for our teachers to review the untaught lessons of self-worth and start acting accordingly.

The issues of having a decent, dignified and functional learning environment to teach for equally decent, dignified and functional pay are matters of government (of school and state).

Suffice to say it will be difficult to attain decency, dignity and functionality in a country that has no money but it is even more difficult to attain them in a system that does not value knowledge and those that serve knowledge. Values determine priority.

There is one thing that should not be too difficult to attain though: Governance.

Let the government roll back from school management and give teachers more independence to manage themselves.

Let governors and commissioners have less say in who becomes Vice Chancellors and school Heads. Allow teachers decide who manages them based on merit, knowledge and track record of managing education.

We the people (as students ex students and parents) are very guilty of many things and we have a lot of revision to do and amends to make, luckily it is not too late to start.

We can start by rediscovering the importance of teaching and teachers, we need to take time to think it through and reconsider what values we place on who and what we are and those who contributed to making us who and what we are.

Now that you are aware of “The World Teachers Day”, let us review another untaught lesson. I invite you to take some time to think of some teachers that have affected you for better or for worse and if you can send them a thought or a prayer.

I listed 15 teachers that have influenced me for better and for worse. Thoughts are essential and even great but actions will achieve more.

Imagine a world where 5% of those over 40 years old give about 100USD to their favourite teachers every year.

Join me if you can on twitter @anthonykila to continue these conversations.

-Kila is Institute Director at CIAPS. www.ciaps.org.