The Saint Lucia Teachers’ Union (SLTU) has demanded respect for teachers in the classroom during a rally on Sunday at Morne Coubaril, Soufriere.
“Teachers must be respected in the classroom,” SLTU President Don Howell told the event.
In his address, Howell reiterated that the Ministry of Education needs to be firm in addressing the issue of school discipline.
And Howell repeated earlier assertions that all options would remain open when the union deals with such school matters.
But while underscoring the need for respect, he observed that, sadly, teachers have to fight for it.
In this regard, Howell recalled no World Teachers’ Day message from the Ministry of Education.
“We had no tangible token of appreciation coming out of our employer – none, sadly,” Howell declared.
He said for that reason, the SLTU, observing due process, wrote the Ministry of Education after meeting with officials there to indicate that teachers needed a token ‘for now.’
According to Howell, while there was much more that could be done, the least the Ministry could do was give teachers duty-free vehicle concessions.
“We deserve it,” he declared.
Headline photo: Don Howell
Mr President can you please assist the Student Nurses at SALCC. We are being mentally affected by the administration of the department of nursing. Please assist. Thanks.
Jokers alone. You deserve it? That’s not how the world works sir. You have to fight for what is yours. “Deserving” is your evaluation. Others may not hold the same evaluation of you or your efforts. Go back to playing your politics and foolishness. We teachers will continue to languish because we are fools and blind. I feel sad for our children that this is the example that we are passing on to them.
I don’t think that the teacher the student disrespected in the video was even aware that she was being disrespected, had the video not been leaked and opinions were voiced. Had she knew she would reacted differently or send the student to the principal’s office. It is sad Mr. Howell that some teachers do not know that they are being disrespected. It goes to show you how we have allowed students to get away with things because we do not know better. May be it can be that some are being abuse by their spouse or parents before. I suggest that you Mr. Howell speak to your teachers before demanding respect for them publicly because it is a shame some do not see a problem there.