To the Editor: We are arguably on the brink of a very profound paradigm shift in Education.
Our schools are rapidly moving away from the industrial model they were built upon. Learning no longer takes place strictly within school walls. People are connected in unprecedented ways and information is abundant.
What this means for teachers? Well, a lot. In addition to teaching assignments, extra curricular, planning, and "normal" teaching duties - teachers now have a responsibility to encourage learning outside of classroom walls, and outside of classroom time. Although this may not be in a written job description, it is something that teachers believe needs to happen for the benefit of our student's.
The problem is, this requires even more time from teachers - time to learn new educational processes and practices, and time to plan and implement. On an already time pressed and stressed group of individuals - this is a large demand. I believe, not only as a teacher but as a citizen of this province, that we need to treat our teachers better. We need to value, respect and nurture them. Many people hold false ideas of what teacher's actually do. They think they know about educational processes because they went to school for many years and saw first hand what it all entails.
The truth is, until I became an educator - I had absolutely no idea how much time and effort my teachers had put into my education.
So I offer this, my story, as a brief glimpse into one Saskatchewan teacher's short career. Hopefully, it may give you some insight into what this profession demands of it's workers.
I began my teaching career as an intern. My placement was in a small rural school whose student population consisted of Aboriginal students from the two nearby reserves. Upon my first visit I found that four of my future students had just been involved in a murder and were only starting to go through justice processes. This was so far out of my comfort level and I immediately realized that being a teacher was going to be difficult. Over the next four months I developed some pretty meaningful relationships with many students, including the four just mentioned. Being a teacher requires more than just showing up to teach everyday. It demands that you pour yourself into the job - that you make the learning and betterment of your student's a top priority in your day to day life.
Over my brief career I have dealt with and given so much of myself. I honestly don't know how anyone can make it through an entire career as an educator. Already I understand that teaching is a rewarding, yet strenuous career. It is a profession that puts strain on every aspect of your life - from your relationships to mental health. I have been a support to students with addictions; students suffering from abuse, students dealing with poverty and much more.
Last year, I said goodbye to and grieved for a student killed in a car crash. Two weeks ago, I broke down upon hearing news that a student of mine hung himself. Teachers wear many hats. It is not a 9 - 3:30 job with great holidays and summers off and if you want to understand it fully, spend some time with teachers. Talk to them - listen to their stories.
It's easy to dismiss all this. To think that teachers exaggerate. After all, how bad could it be? Well, it's not bad. It's great. I love planning for my classes. I love to engage students and ignite passion in their learning.
Over the last five years I have put in slightly over 3000 hours of extra curricular time. It's definitely put a strain on my personal life, but those hours have also been some of the most rewarding times of my life. I am not sending this letter to complain - to tell you how hard teachers have it. I love my profession. I am proud to call myself a teacher. I see wonderful things for education and this province.
What I am trying to tell you is that demands on teachers are many - and ever increasing. That in order to do our job well, we need a nurturing and understanding culture. Many of the requests outlined in our proposal are small and insignificant, and in my mind - not enough. However, even these small requests are being met with resistance.
My outlook on the future of education in this province is becoming a little bleaker. There is a gap here - a lack of understanding. Who would you rather have teaching your children - teachers who are overworked, underpaid and stressed or teachers who feel part of a nurturing system, teachers that have time and support to do their job extremely well?
Ryan Nickell, Maymont, SK
