My Role

Once again in the gym at our school in Pakistan, I hear ‘My maid forgot to pack my PE strip.’ And also ‘My maid forgot to wash my PE strip.’ Sometimes I wonder what my role is as a teacher.  Am I supposed to help my students become more responsible so that they can survive in the future? Or am I supposed to just teach sports and hope that they figure it out on their own? I continue to question and battle between these students, their laziness and lack of responsibility. And I’m sure many teachers can relate because there are lazy and rich students in all countries.  These experiences did not happen with all students but it happened enough for me to wonder about the future of this younger generation and also the role of my job as an educator.

‘But the recycling bins have lids on them. What are we supposed to do?’ Let me help you out. You pick up the lid and you put your juice box inside the bin and put the lid back down. (Heaven forbid you need to wash your hands afterwards).

It’s frustrating to work in a place where I don’t really relate to the students and don’t really understand that you need to earn your living. I started a recycling program at the school and they had no idea why we had it. I tried to show them videos of the importance and to tell them it was a long process that had to build. My Leadership class loaded the bags onto the truck to take away. That was their only job. Sometimes we cleaned the bins, but that was too gross for them and their Louis Vuitton shoes were too valuable as they would just leave the bin and say they cleaned it. I told them that I went through all the recycling at my school to fundraise for volleyball tournaments. They would never understand that because their parents have an abundance of money for them to access. I hope that I managed to change a few minds while I was working in Pakistan and I hope that some really did understand the value of volunteering and keeping a sustainable environment.

Aren’t parents supposed to prepare their children for the future? Why do I feel like teachers are taking over this job?

As their drivers come to pick students up after school, the student loads all their bags, books, laptops onto the drivers arm and stroll to the car with nothing while behind them follows the poor driver piled with all their stuff. I see it in the Middle school, and even the High school. Where is the responsibility? And sometimes the High schoolers will kick their driver out of the drivers seat so they can drive. Of course the driver doesn’t report this to the parents because the child will then come up with a reason to get the driver fired.

Mondays are my gym duty days and students run up to me, look me in the face and say ‘Ms. Howell, ball.’  My response, ‘I’m sorry I didn’t catch that.’  Again, ‘Ms. Howell, ball!’ I say, ‘Nope.’ There is confusion in the air and finally there is a click in the students head. ‘Ms. Howell, may I please have a ball?’ Oh, I’m glad you remembered how to speak to your teacher. This worries me. Who is he talking to like this? And something clicks in my head. They use this voice at home to someone else who is under them.

Every culture is different but shouldn’t all of them share one trait? Respect?  

For some, parent teacher conferences in the elementary turns into parenting advice. You can’t give in every time your child is upset.

A father is very upset with his child and his performance in school. “I am thinking of sending him a letter and sliding it under his door. Or should I just ignore him.” (good old silent treatment). Who is the child here?

Responsibility, Respect and Discipline needs to start from home. Has this now become the teacher’s job to initiate and enforce these traits?

Don’t get me wrong, there are some lovely parents that truly value education and respect all teachers.  But many of the elementary children have their maids take them to school because the mothers are sleeping at home and choose not to wake up for their own children. And some parents do want to help their child succeed but they just don’t know how. I strongly feel that schools should have sessions for parents to help parents understand how to help their child through school.  This younger generation is stimulated by so many new toys and technology that basic family values are struggling to exist.  And I agree that it is harder and harder for parents to control their children because of what is happening in this society. It is not the teacher’s job to educate, parent and then be critiqued because the student isn’t getting good grades. Their plate is already full.