Letter to the Editor

After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:  “Let  me see if I’ve got this right. You want me to go into that room with all those kids,  correct their disruptive behaviour, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages and instill in them a love for learning.

You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self-esteem and personal pride.

You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a check book, and apply for a job.

You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behaviour, and ensure that they all pass their final exams.

You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicap and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Arabic or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card

You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for “New Start at CENTRELINK.”

You want me to do all this, and then you tell me……

I CAN’T wear a necklace with a little cross, mention God, or say “Merry Christmas” because someone might take offense? ”

Well, you know what you can do with your job……..

Keith Courte

Cairns