Agenda | Jun 25,2022
May 27 , 2023
By Eden Sahle
A while back, I was asked to cover as a substitute teacher for a friend at her primary school teaching job while she travelled to the United States. The private school around the Bole area had tested my ability with an exam before agreeing to it.
The month-long endeavour had its own thrill. But the school had a teaching guide, which made up for my lack of teaching experience. I enjoyed it to the fullest but the best part was being welcomed by the warm-hearted children.
The primary school students were fun to be around, during class sessions, playgrounds and lunchtimes. I was impressed with how they were treated in a kind, nurturing manner with teachers and caretakers speaking encouraging words and comforting them when they cried.
They are taught to care for their classmates and consider them brothers and sisters by having someone listen to their ideas and complaints.
I have observed the students being counselled for family troubles they have at home. The school has taken time to speak to their parents and make the home hospitable to the children while regular training times are held to train teachers and caregivers on treating and supporting each child.
Teachers are taught how to enhance the children's academic performance and social interaction. Teachers are encouraged to take each student's academic and behavioural performance personally as their failure was taken as a problem of their teachers.
Indeed, the high school fees make it possible to facilitate such a nice ambience where values, ethics, and passion to give students a better future are taken seriously. But that is not always the case. I have come to witness children being verbally and physically abused by their teachers despite being enrolled in one of the highly paid-schools.
Private schools are contemplating raising their school fee for next year. They are having trouble reaching to agreement with parents on the rate of increase that led to many parents considering enrolling their children in an affordable institution rather than worrying about quality.
I believe all schools should work on upholding a facility that caters to the needs of students. Abusive and hostile behaviours reported at schools where the follow-up system is rather loose are frustrating.
I met a 10-year-old girl in a hospital with broken fingers. She learns in one of the public schools and the injury was caused by her mathematics teacher who claimed that she had been talking and laughing while class was in session.
She was excited to miss school as it saves her from the mental torment she went through with the teachers usually resorting to reminding students that they come from economically lower backgrounds or have no hope of excelling academically.
On the other hand, her parents did not challenge the teacher or the school about the incident, fearing her grades might be affected. They opt to keep the cause of the accident unspecified while she missed school for over a week.
Teachers referring to children with the low pay job their parents do is a clear indication that they are not well trained on how to handle children and help them navigate through the academic world.
Words that are said to children have an impact. This includes how they are treated at home and school. Negative words, lack of compassion, and physical and verbal harm can hurt children. The internalised words of frustration and anger will haunt them even as adults.
Teachers are expected to model positive and nurturing behaviours, not damage students. They hold the key to students for academic success and emotional stability by being supportive, as seen at the school I taught for a month. It is significant for students to attain academic success.
Instructors should be aware of their students' observing and listening to them, whether teaching, encouraging, disciplining, or responding negatively. Words can motivate, encourage, support, and boost others or can be used to humiliate, ridicule, discourage, and taunt them.
Teachers should not underestimate their power in shaping future generations. Their work impacts academic, emotional and mental development. They should be trained to have emotional intelligence when students challenge them.
PUBLISHED ON
May 27,2023 [ VOL
24 , NO
1204]
Agenda | Jun 25,2022
Fortune News | Jun 18,2022
Fortune News | Jan 01,2022
Commentaries | Dec 19,2020
Fortune News | Oct 24,2020
Fortune News | Dec 10,2018
Radar | Jun 18,2022
Fortune News | Jul 18,2021
Fortune News | Jun 19,2021
Radar | Oct 12,2019
Photo Gallery | 93279 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 85558 Views | Apr 26,2019
My Opinion | 65905 Views | Aug 14,2021
Commentaries | 65494 Views | Oct 02,2021
Feb 24 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
Abel Yeshitila, a real estate developer with a 12-year track record, finds himself unable to sell homes in his latest venture. Despite slash...
Feb 10 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
In his last week's address to Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) painted a picture of an economy...
Jan 7 , 2024
In the realm of international finance and diplomacy, few cities hold the distinction that Addis Abeba doe...
Sep 30 , 2023 . By AKSAH ITALO
On a chilly morning outside Ke'Geberew Market, Yeshi Chane, a 35-year-old mother cradling her seven-month-old baby, stands amidst the throng...
Mar 16 , 2024
In a striking move that has rattled the corridors of Ethiopia's export sector, the Mi...
Mar 9 , 2024
Mamo Mehiretu's tenure at the central bank's helm is marked by a distinct shift in fo...
Mar 1 , 2024
In the corridors of the Ministry of Finance, on King George IV St., a recent visit by...
Feb 24 , 2024
The recent policy pronouncement by the Transport Minister, Alemu Sime (PhD), of a pla...
Mar 16 , 2024
Finance Minister Ahmed Shide inked a comprehensive 13-article agreement with the Development Partners Group (DPG), a coalition of donors led...
Mar 16 , 2024 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
In a dramatic turn of events that rattled the digital banking sector, the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CB...
Mar 16 , 2024 . By AKSAH ITALO
The Ethiopian government recently implemented revised import taxes to bolster domestic businesses and decrease reliance on foreign goods. Th...
Mar 16 , 2024 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) introduces a draft directive limiting commercial banks' equity invest...