Teachers are not teaching

THE EDITOR: I must congratulate Mr Oliver on the elaborate plans he has for celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Teacher’s Union — TTUTA. But sir, you have omitted a very essential item in your plans ie urging the vast majority of Primary School teachers to start teaching the Nation’s children. Are you aware Mr Oliver that little proper teaching is being done throughout the Primary School system? Make a small survey in any area East, West, North, South or even Tobago and you will be shocked to find out that many children at most levels cannot read simple passages or spell simple words. Comprehension is another grey area. Children who can read a bit do not understand what they read. Write a few simple sentences on the blackboard and ask a few questions. You will be amazed at the response.

Teachers do not teach tables to their children, resulting in problems doing multiplication, divisions, addition and subtraction mentally. Don’t talk about writing. Teachers do not instil in children that there are long letters and small round ones — h, y, g, b — a, e, s, r. Penmanship is a thing of the distant past. Teachers do not teach children to answer questions using part of the question in their answer. eg What is name? Answer — Joe — No — My name is Joe Harry. Teachers do not teach children to state the facts of a problem in such a way that the answer is gained logically. These were things taught when I worked in the Primary System years ago. But alas, how have standards fallen! Teachers are no longer writing in corrections in their children’s books. You are right with a tick or wrong with a cross. Now what is this foolish idea of keeping the children’s books in school? How can a child revise what he/she has been taught? Something is radically wrong with our Primary teachers. They have forgotten the basics. Time to wake them up Mr Oliver. They are better paid now and need to start working.

JOHN DE COTEAU
Port-of-Spain