Dear Editor,
I believe it might be helpful to examine how the teacher profession has evolved from the time I taught, to where it is now. I taught at Tutorial High School, between 1982 – 1985. Here are the major differences that I can discern between then, and now. In those days, teachers think of their occupation as a vocation – a divine calling. Now, it is just a job. There was no contract, and I never received a raise. Now, teachers have contracts and they say a 6.5 % raise is not enough.
I was not aware if we had a union and despite the trying circumstances, we never contemplated going on strike. Teachers now have a union. And both, their union and the opposition parties encouraged them to go on strike. Neither indicated the impact their absence from the classrooms will have on their students. As a trained teacher in 1985, my salary was $600.00 per month. Now, trained teachers make $100,000.00
As a condition to maintain my employment, I was required to have a government PNC political party card. Now, there is no political or gov’t requirement to sustain a teaching job. I was terminated in June 1985, because I refused to sign and enroll in the political arm of the governing party. Now, there are no political or gov’t demands on public servants.
Sincerely,
Jhagroo Persaud
