The Editor, Sir:

As educators and students usher in the new school year our educators are crying foul and are demanding justice from the government. Since inflation has no pity on the pockets of the proletariat, the over 22,000 teachers are restive as their purchasing power has been ravaged by the savagery of price increases. It is a known fact that teachers are the worst paid individuals in any society. Government cannot and will not be able to compensate teachers for the mammoth task that we have facing us.

It is irritating to hear some of our erudite men and women advocating for teachers to be paid based on their performance. While I must admit that such a proposal has its merit, I am cautioning the policymakers to tread carefully and don't allow themselves to fall victim to these self-professed educational practitioners. The implementation of such a proposal should have the full backing of the teachers.

Noble profession

The noble profession called teaching can be considered as the midwife of all other professions. Our teachers play an important role in shaping the minds of our youth, by engaging, inspiring and challenging them. I have a long list of teachers who impacted my life as a child but one really stands out, and that is my grade nine teacher Mrs Clarke. The point is, there are countless numbers of people who can attest to the fact that these unsung heroes have affected their life in untold ways. It is clear that countries worldwide have been getting the blood, sweat and tears of teachers for too long, while paying us peanuts.

As teachers face economic disparities and the looming death of the teaching profession there are two things that our teachers are demanding, money and respect. The time has long past when our teachers were given royal treatment for their work and contribution to the school, community and society.

Returning glory to teaching

While we contemplate our next move in returning glory to teaching it is incumbent on all educators to unite around a common vision. We see for ourselves that teaching is under attack on several fronts. We are under attack from the educational neophytes and the societal derelicts who are ready to blame us all for the gaps in the achievement of our students.

It is time for the society to wake up and realise that a country without an educated population is not going anywhere. Only teachers have the answer for the prevailing ignorance in our midst. Remember! Education is an investment so let us invest wisely. This investment starts with our teachers and ends with them. I want to plead with them to let us remember that the future of Jamaica is in our hands. Enough said!

I am, etc,

HARVEY BROWN

harveybrown2008@yahoo.com

Principal in a rural primary school.