Bridgetown.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy is championing the importance of educators in this country and has called on parents to respect the significant role that they play in moulding the nation’s children.
Sealy, made this appeal yesterday evening while addressing the Welches Primary School’s Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony at the 3W’s Oval, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The Minister said there were too many instances where some parents were prepared to give educators a hard time and he maintained that they “need to change that approach”.
He pointed out that people in need of legal or financial advice made an appointment to see their lawyer or banker and sat in silence and respectfully listened to what they said. The same thing he noted, obtained for persons seeking medical attention at the doctor’s office when they sat and listened to what their physician had to say without comment.
Sealy said: “Let me just say for the record that educators are more important in this country than MP’s, lawyers, doctors or bank managers. As I said already, the only resource we have is our people… and therefore, the same respect you could have for those other professionals when you go to seek their advice, have that respect for the educators of this country.”
He also challenged educators to see themselves as important and be cognisant of the central role they played in the future development of the island. “I know it is thankless work, I know that you are not paid very well [given] the work that you do…and have to deal with a lot of side remarks from your friends that you are always on vacation, without realising how much hard work you do during the vacation. But, you too must also value yourself and you [teachers] will probably find that the respect that you seek will probably be more forthcoming,” Sealy emphasised.
