Chief Executive Officer VF Inc, Dr. Valda Henry, has stressed the importance of the role of teachers noting that their job has become bigger.
She was speaking against the background of an incident in Roseau earlier this week when students from a high school were engaged in a fracas with a police officer.
“When I thought of the incident yesterday, I said listen, just the thought of a teacher passing to see you still in school, or in town half an hour after school was dismissed was enough to send you spinning home much less for you to engage in a fight with a police officer ,” she said at an award ceremony for phenomenal teachers on Thursday night.
She stated that over the past few days people on social media have been discussing children who loiter after school.
“And I said you mean no teacher ever passed and saw their children because for me teaching means every child entrusted in your care becomes your child,” she noted. “And so as we are here tonight celebrating you the phenomenal teachers, you the teachers who go over and above the call of duty, teachers who lead not just by word but teachers who lead by example.”
Dr. Henry said the job of teachers has become bigger.
I think you job has gotten even bigger, your job now is to go out and instill that same passion that you have, that same love that same caring to the other teachers in your school, the other teachers in your community, the other teachers in your associations because what it says to me is that all our teachers are not phenomenal and that ought not to be,” she remarked.
There appears to be a paradigm shift within our society for the worse. We all need to be active participants in their lives and actively figure out how best to connect with them and form lasting relationships that we can call on in crisis moments like this incident. I think it’s safe to say that this is an area where many adults continue to struggle, including yours truly. Hopefully, this assault on a school teacher last week will be an outlier and not part of a new despicable norm. Every school teacher on the island is a treasured valuable resource. We all need to value them as such and protect them at all times.
Dr. Henry, gone are the days when it took a village to raise a child. That village included teachers who were respected by parents, by the entire community. This is not the case today and if Dr. Henry does not know that, then she has had her head in the sand. If that young man attacked a police office, imagine his behaviour with a teacher. Teachers are not respected by the education department or the government, why should the children respect them? When the mister for education calls for teachers to be “smoked out” what do you expect? When teachers are asked to become more qualified in order to deliver to students and then they are not appointed or even paid a salary commensurate with their qualification, what do you expect? Teacher have to learn to pick their battles because when they get hurt, the medical bill becomes their responsibility. I am a teacher: I do my best, but I pick my battles. It’s about self preservation.
Kelly…Is there any hope for us in Dominica? What steps should be taken to ensure that the wicked,greedy or evil
people can become loving and productive Dominicans??
At the opening of a new primary school,the leader of the country simply told the students..”don’t do drugs or alcohol It is not surprising that Valda follows her leader and expects teachers to go beyond the call of duty.
It is all political talk and no action.
Skerrit could show a film of the destructive consequences of doing drugs.
Valda should open after school clubs to harness students creativity.
Of course it is easier to be a political than a NATION BUILDER.
let us as a nation continue to have faith and courage to weather the storm.
eople can become loving productive Dominicans???
I was waiting for someone to say something unreasonable, but it is truly a suprise that it came from someone of such esteem as Dr. Henry. Really! Teachers are where they belong – in the school. The last I checked it was the duty of their parents to raise, not drag, them up, and the teachers simply receive the students as they are and try the best that they can. With only a few hours of training in basic counselling, the problems that students come to school with are often beyond the scope of the ordinary teacher and the true counselling professionals have to be called in.
Students first are children, and the majority of children have parents. Where are the parents? Why are the children not afraid that if they don’t get home by a particular time they will be punished by the people who feed and clothe them?
Teachers are a SECONDARY support system. Parents are the PRIMARY care givers. The parents need to step up and do their part so that the teachers can do theirs to full effect.
I am very disappointed in this lady’s comments. you mean to tell me she is actually blaming teachers for students misbehaviour? What about parents who have the first responsibility for their children. As a teacher myself I condemn this statement. And just because a few teachers were chosen to be given phenomenal awards doesn’t meant that dozen of others aren’t. And may I add some human touch, we must learn to control our malcasse children than expect teachers to do it for us.
Most parents are no longer doing their jobs of parenting, which requires even more skills than 20 years ago and the school system no longer supports responsible parenting. The rule is to spare the rod. So sad. The good teachers we have, despite their best efforts, cannot undo the ills of poor parenting that happens every day the children return home from school.
Well a little away from the topic but who is going to stand with the teachers when now they are given 3 months temporary appointments?
Really, well all our parents are not phenomenal,and all our lawyers are not phenomenal. Everyone is not phenomenal.Thats life boo. Where were you guys when the so call education act was amended. Teacher’s hands are tied. You guys tied it. Children have more rights than teachers. Do you expect a teacher to see a child after school in an altercation and get involve? That teacher would be crazy. When teachers get in altercations with students at school, the children are given right over teachers. You guys treat teachers like dogs. And you want them to put their life on the line for the so called children who are spoilt by their parents ? Then go back way back to the drawing board. All of you so called educators and and start working on the wrong you guys have done to teachers.
You call yourself Dr. Henry!
Doctor of what?
No wonder the country is in the state it is in right now; reading the nonsense you have spoken here is no wonder we have students in the country rioting with police.
If the stupid rhetoric I am reading here came from the thoughts, and mind of one who possess a PhD in any scientific discipline; one who I would assume to be academically educated, you are a very poor example to the students who riot with the police.
If we keep our mouth shut, no one will detect our lack of knowledge, and so I question your credentials!
I wonder; from what sort of academic institution your obtain you doctorate! There are so many of you in Dominica who like to be called doctor, you attend all sort of none-accredited intuitions, walk out with all sorts of useless bits of paper, calling yourselves doctor; but as soon as you open you mouth we find that some of you are not by any means academically educated!
What a joke!
OK…so what she said that was so wrong?
Can you give a critique of her statement? Looking forward to that.
I have already spoke my peace, the rubbish she is talking is elementary, an illiterate peasant could have conveyed something much more significant.
Talking crap about teacher’s job does not make sense, teachers job is to teach from a prepared curriculum, and not to teach children how to conduct themselves.
Such teachings has to come from in the home of the individual students. I agree there must be rules and protocol students have to follow while they are on campus and in the class rooms, if the refuse to comply with the rules expulsion, or suspension should be the alternative.
Teachers are not supposed to teach peoples children manners, that should be taught to them in their home! Most people my age came from very humble homes and families in Wesley, we were taught how to behave in public, in Church and school, we were thought to say good morning, afternoon, and good night to our parent and the elder people in the village.
Profanities could not pop out of our mouth in…
“we were thought to say good morning, ”
That should read “we were taught!”
“…as soon as you open you mouth we find that some of you are not by any means academically educated…”
Well if that’s not the pot calling the kettle black I don’t know what is.
And for the record, Dr Henry holds a PhD in International Relations and Business from Warwick Business School in the UK.
Steve those are my words, if you wish to classify me as an non-academically educated person, that is your prerogative, I will not argue with you, because I know who I am; no one knows my background better than I know it.
The trouble with people like you is that as soon as someone present themselves as “doctor” ignorant like hell you revere them as a gods. If these people were not ignorant you would not be reading the nonsense that woman wrote. What she said does not make any sense whatsoever, and if you think it makes sense, you are worst off than here educationally.
There are people who has PhD’s in home economics too, if they are asked to produced a cook book they have no clue. Here is an example: How many government ministers are there in Skerrit’s Government you know has Ph.D.’s and are called doctor including Vince Henderson? Some have doctorates in medicine, and are in Government, yet we find Dominica to be the poorest, and most backward place in the…
Continue:
Some have doctorates in medicine, and are in Government, yet we find Dominica to be the poorest, and most backward place in the Caribbean!
Give me an explanation as to why there are so many doctors in Dominica government, yet with their combined academic background politics is their only hope, without Skerrit providing a source for their survival they will stave for food.
Steve if most of those people who like to be called “Dr.” had any special skills, or ability to get involved in anything different to politics Dominica might be a more progressive place, because some would have developed business based on their professional skills. The MD’s could perhaps go into medical R&D, finding cures for diseases, developing medicine to help save life’s.
I am an Electronic/Electrical Engineer, I made my living in both fields, I have done some R&D on my own, and have even done some remedial design on designs that are not my own, if you are intelligent enough I do not…
Conclusion:
if you are intelligent enough I do not have to explain that to you. If I return to Dominica one day before I die, I am capable of creating some industry in both fields which could create employment for a few people.
That is what an academically educated person with a Ph.D; or any doctorate should be capable of doing, and not talking fart
Franciso, hold on a moment my dear fellow.
Dr. Henry has a valid PhD (international relations and business) from Warwick Business School and is entitled to the title of doctor – Warwick Business School is a department of the University of Warwick which is a chartered UK university.
You Sir, are a disgrace to impugn this distinguished lady without bothering to check your facts first.
I would suggest that Dr. Henry has a good case for libel against you and would offer her my full support in taking legal action against you for your unlawful comments which, in the circumstances, would be successful.
Well then if she has a PhD in business; what purpose is it serving her?
Shouldn’t she have used her academics learning skills to be at the apex of her own business, providing employment for others; so that they can contribute to the economy of the country by paying income tax?
That should be the duty of all academically educated people in the country; they should not be dependent on politics for their survival!
When we peruse academics, we should not do so, to return home specifically to work in the civil service, or kiss the behind of politicians for a hand out.
Francisco stop being a bitter old man.
Dr. Henry heads VF Inc. in Dominica. VF Inc is a consultancy company providing services in the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and USA. She is employing a lot of Dominicans.
Here is her website: http://www.vfinc.org/index2.html
What are you doing except come on DNO and fart all day.
Man get something to do.
Wow…you really have a chip on your shoulder.
Anon. Franciso, I am sure does not fart all day. Perhaps for most of the day, but not all of it. May I suggest that you kindly withdraw the comment and apologise to him please?
Mr. Etienne-Dods Telemaque, you took your Prozac nuh?
Valda Henry…teachers cannot show love and care to people’s children on hungry stomach. Teachers cannot pay the loans they cannot buy food to eat…..if you and Celia are sooooooo concern then tell your government that is is high time to give those hard working teachers their appointement. Stop using teachers. Doh say one thing in public to make teacher believe all u care and then in close doors with de government all u helping to criple teachers. Time will Tell. Teachers are fedup with all nice talk,
Thank you for that comment. There are teachers in the classroom 6, 7, 8 even 15 years trained and they refuse to appoint them and DAT isn’t doing anything about it. And Dr. Henry expects teachers to get involved in children’s fights on the street? When they knock teachers down, who going to pay the hospital bill?
What for Dr. Henry and Celia Nicholas to talk about now is an explanation from the government concerning appointment of teachers and a reasoning as to why temporary teachers, even those who went to teachers college and have been teaching for 5 years plus, received letters for their jobs up to December this school year and not up to August as usual.
And I am waiting for teachers to close down the classroom and go and strike like in every other Caribbean island and put party colour aside. If teachers close down the classrooms, parents will have no where to send their children. Teachers wake up!
You see, gone are the days when the teacher was the one who made the promissory notes for all. We have taught well, so every one can write their notes. Society’s need for us is not much except to make miracles with their spoilt , malcassay children in the schools.
Dr Henry is right. In a world where it sadly seems many parents are inclined to do less, teachers become the last line of defence for children who otherwise may end up in chaos.
Who is taking care and defending the teachers? Who feels it knows it. You all just stay in the background and make comments. Teachers should do this and teachers should do that! Teachers are given no respect. The same students they put oit their lives out for and neglect their own wellbeing for wants to kick us and threaten their lives. Their parents verbally abuse us. The education system have destroyed the spirit of teachers and
And so because parents refuse to play their role, we must become parents to these children? it cannot be. Our job is too teach. Not parent. What else are we to do when they send them to you hungry, the last 5 dollars you have you must feed them. What else should we do when the come to school ill or sick and you ask , did you tell somebody at home. Yes ?Miss. What did they say….go to school. Then I have to take them to the health center/ hospital. What else should we do, when you take your money to buy underwear , deodorant,mclothes, books, pencils……what else can we and should we do!! We cannot teach children who are mentally, physically, emotionally broken. We have to fix their brokenness first. And their brokenness doesn’t start with us. We are trying. And all we are getting in return is a kick up the rear,,..you’re not doing good enough
Rubbish! The inclinations of parents to be useless does not excuse their actions. The last line of defense cannot be the one that gets the blame for everything that happens. 30 mins after school is out any reasonable person who knows anything about the teaching profession knows that teachers are still in the school making sure that the classes are locked up, attending to students who need help or are doing assignments that they missed, organising for extra classes, planning lessons, correcting papers, running club meetings and activities – the list goes on. It is not our job to patrol the streets to make sure that the children, whose primary care takers are the people who birthed them, are not busy doing something that they shouldn’t.
We must learn to place blame where it is due. The schools are here first to educate – those CSEC subjects don’t pass themselves. Then, and only then, do we have the task of REINFORCING what should be taught from the home. Dr. Henry should know…
Let me be clearer. I’m not saying this is ideal, or that this is the rightful job of teachers. I’m simply saying that many teachers do their best to help kids whose parents should be doing their jobs but aren’t.
So when things like this go wrong then the teachers should not be blamed AT ALL.
Parents are PRIMARY.
Teachers are SECONDARY.
The mere fact that they have tried to implicate teachers in any way when clearly this is a parenting problem speaks volumes as to what society expects.
The parents are not doing their jobs. Well caught. Tell them to do better. Leave the last line of defense who tries to help out of it. They have enough work as it is.
So pay them more and apoint them
What she is saying is true but folks like Dr.Valda are too silent about critical ills in Dominica
When one compares the other islands and places around planet earth their Professionals are balance and advocate more for National Pride, i can bet my last cent she can never speak to the Prime Minister and ask him to level the playing field re electoral reform, pay the Public works workers, and many more….
that’s the class of a true Professional and a Patriot, thus the island will be headlining in Some sector or field, as when the island fails we all do…
Dominica’s problem is that the signs are on the wall of “‘DOOM” but many are hypocritical of the facts…
I will say many Dominicans are either evil, wicked or greedy thus no love for island…
Dominica is rating as the Poorest and slowest economy in the region and all these folks are proud of it….why hasn’t Dr.Henry ask the PM, to have Press Conferences to the Public on his travels……..bunch of Hypocrites…