Some people tend to look like they belong in certain professions. Tonya is one such; her look spells teacher and that has been her career for 16 years. At 34, she has spent 10 years in the private school system and the last six in public schools.
“So you can say I have been a teacher all of my working life,” she said giving that schoolmarm look over the rim of her glasses.
“No, I cannot survive on a teacher’s salary,” she said with a laugh even before the question was asked.
Having done the reverse of what many of her peers have been doing, Tonya conceded, “Maybe I would have earned more in the private system if I had remained there, but I entered the public system because of the benefits in terms of job security, flexibility of time and also I think security comes in relation to the pension you are entitled to after retirement. It does not mean I would remain in the system just for the pension but it is a good thing.”
A trained teacher now, but one who would have started at the elementary level, Tonya is an Assistant Mistress, a specialized teacher who teaches Mathematics to Grade 9 students.
“I love my students; they keep me going but my take home salary is $78,000 a month and being a single mother, I cannot survive on that,” she noted.
She spends about $23,000 on transportation every month for herself and son, about $40,000 on groceries and while she does not have to pay rent she has to contribute to utility bills.
“I am forced to work outside of the school system,” Tonya said, refusing to divulge further information.
“I make about another $78,000 but seeing that I am very good with money I make it work and ensure that I save a little too. But I also have to cater for school supplies, text books for my son who is in Grade Six and also a little for entertainment.
“It is not easy working outside but with my meagre salary I am forced to explore doing part-time jobs… and it helps me to enjoy what I would consider a comfortable living. But like I said I am a very, very good manager of finances and so I do save every month.”
Single parenthood was not what she had envisioned for herself but it happened and she has embraced it and believes it has helped her to better manage her finances.
“Maybe if I did not have a child, I would have been more relaxed and spent more, but you know children get sick and I don’t want to not have money for my son to seek medical attention if that time ever comes,” she said.
Tonya teaches at one of the lower grade schools and she admits it is very difficult at times but she presses on.
“I love this job it gives me a sense of satisfaction knowing that I can help a child. I can bring them from point A to point B. They may not become excellent students but I take them from a level of basic literacy to a point of above average performance,” she said with a soft smile.
But like everything else there are also some negatives, well many, she confirmed.
“One of the main challenges for me it is the lack of intervention, more so by the Ministry of Education. I think there needs to be a system in place where the ministry has a more liaison type of relationship with schools specifically those which are considered low level,” she advocated.
“In my opinion, the ministry’s main focus is on administrative aspect of the schools which includes the requirement of teachers to provide notes on a daily basis, rather than the actual performance of our students.”
Like many teachers she is not happy with the blame for poor results in Mathematics and English being placed squarely at the feet of teachers.
“Yes we are doing the delivery of concepts in the classrooms, but in my opinion as much as the teachers in the classrooms must take some level of responsibility for the poor performance, there is a burden on the teachers who have a specific timeline to complete the required scheme of work. The burden gets heavier if the students are not taught effectively at the lower level,” she said.
“The ministry should make more provision of resources to teachers as right now this is very limited.”
Bad days in class?
“My bad days in my classroom would surround indisciplined behaviours by the students over a period of time. This takes a lot from me. Because the children come from different backgrounds, you are faced with fights, use of indecent language and no interest demonstrated by some during lesson period.
“This drains me at times, but my major concern is with the ministry’s stance on disciplining students and representation, or lack of it, of teachers in unfortunate situations within the school environment,” she said. She shared a recent incident that caused her to question whether she would remain in the system.
“As much as I love teaching and I want to give back to my country I did question whether I want to remain. There was this incident involving a child who was suspended because of his actions and within hours, because of his family connection, a ministry official was at the school. Now we had an incident before and informed the ministry and days later no one showed up but here it was this child was disciplined and within hours the ministry intervened.”
She added, “But you know an educator I would always be, it may not be within the school system… And I am not even looking for a senior position as I always prefer face-to-face interactions with students.
“But with everything I have said I would tell you that my place of work, I think it is a home where love is shown. I am fortunate to be in a school where as a staff we have a high level of interaction, we share light moments of laughter, moments of empowerment and friendship.
“However, in my opinion there is a great need for a better administrative structure in order for the students of my school to reach their full potential.”
With that she indicated that the interview has to be ended as she had another appointment, this writer did not ask if it was a job appointment, and she did not say.
