I was in Barbados a year ago to bury my mother and attended a cruise in support of an elementary school. The behaviour displayed by the teachers was so vulgar and the children no older than maybe ten years of age displayed the same behaviour. What has happened to Barbados Society/Culture?

Dr. Saul’s cannot be serious when she states that teachers are not providing the “Pastoral Care”, and therefore are displaying disrespect for Barbadian society. These are comments that are associated with the Vatican Colleges and other Religious Schools, and NOT a Barbados Teachers College. I am not suggesting that there are not issues with some teachers; but how about in politics?

I am a teacher, and I wouldn’t attend some of these ‘so-called’ school activities where the both the students AND the teachers are wukkin’ from pillar to post.  I find the behaviour of some of my colleagues disgusting, especially these fund raising cruises…and don’t let me talk about what goes on at these Secondary School graduation after-parties…well, some schools.

I agree with Dr Saul wholeheartedly. Some teachers are highly qualified but they have lost the desire to go beyond the emotional and social well being of the children.

I know they are some very rude and disorderly children. You may not be able to save all but you may be able to save some. You will be surprise to see a child who is labeled as rude or disorderly in class, if that child just receives a little love and attention from their teachers you might see a whole different side to that student.

Gone are the days when the children ran home to their parents telling them how nice their teachers were.

I am an adult now and up to this day if I see any of my teachers I always refer to them as Ms this or Mr that. I respect them to this day.

A lot of them are only in it for the money they are not passionate about the job.

she cannot be serious at all. i dont go to any fundraising cruises or not because i pparty wid ppl my age or at last legal   age because parents can be really silly.the pressure and the harrassment teeacehrs go through on a daily basis.Parents want to attack you and then they inquiry about your PERSONAL lives , adminstration issues, unruly kids,lets not talk about the chalk and illnesses ensued therefore teacehrs are worn out and tired. WE ARE HUMAN.I have had persons come my online page to harrass me , i have heard parents on premises bad talking teachers and what they wear, their nail polish , hairdos its like really bad and dependeing on the your head it might be worst.Then no one supports us all we do is cry teachers down year after year. I once heard it s the worst job u cud ever do and the result is tired teachers who only do what they have to and no more. Its one the most tiring and draining jobs ever moreso today than before

I strongly sgree with Doctor Saul.Teachers of today are just appearing to be in the system for their own benefits.
When it comes to the well being of the children they are not at all interested.
Also to be taken into account there are so many guidelines which the Ministry have now put in place in terms of teachers chastising children that it is however no wonder they have the attitudes they do.
In my times we had no choice but to obey and respesct our teachers but now the parents of today are always so ready to crucify the teachers and report them to the Ministry for simply correcting a child. obviously because of the guidelines the Ministry has in place now the children use this as weapons against the teachers because they know what can happen.
So I believe that parents and The Powers that be are partly responsible for the teachers reactions.So lets also see it from that angle.Everyone will not be able to remain dedicated under those circumstances.

I understand your sentiments, Mrs. Saul but for quite a while some of us have been warning about our ‘certification factories’. What is happening now is the the products of these ‘factories’ are now entering the teaching industry, so in a sense we are reaping what we sowed. Until we get back to educating and not certificating, this situation will mushroom. Let’s start with restructuring of the Primary School so we provide primary education and not just seek to produce passes in the CEE(Common Entrance Elimination).

@Frustrated, you must not spend a lot of time at school…
teachers should model respectful behaviour at all times. many times students don’t have good role models at home, so they need to see the modeling of the teacher. but if teachers are wukkin’ up bad like students where is the respect? the decorum has gone down, down, down. not what this generation needs at all, at all.

how do u mean we don’t care anymore ...there are so many teachers out there stressing themselves out because they don’t know how to handle their jobs. the PARENTS of these children need to take responsibility for their own kids and raise them they way they need to be raised. Yes they pay us well but are we not to be paid for our insurmountable efforts. We expect so much from practical strangers (teachers) but who are solely responsible for these kids parents or teachers. If you try to do more than you need to someone calls the ministry for you therefore you do what you have,in order to cover your behind and no more

It is totally unfair for some to take a broad brush and paint all teachers as bad. I am not a teacher, but I had some excellent teachers that played an important role in my education. Let us reward those that are doing a good job and fire those that are not. Do not expect teachers to assume the role as parents and also expect them to be PASTORAL as Dr. Saul would like. Maybe a CONVENT is on her AGENDA.

It is very hard for me not to respond to the vicious attacks by some on teachers in our school system. I am not addressing the experiences of anyone in particular, but for me; I attended St. Luke’s (now Brighton Primary) and my experiences with all teachers showed them to be VERY PROFESSIONAL and OUTSTANDING.  Some of us expect teachers to assume the role of parents, and some that are complaining seldom show up for a parent teacher meeting or ever participate in any after school activities that could benefit their children. I am not suggesting that there are no bad teachers; my experience is most teachers are good, and they are doing the best with what they have.  Parents, school administrators and teachers must share the responsibility for discipline in our schools; and public criticism of teachers will do NOTHING to improve the quality of education. Dr. Saul’s comments are unfortunate!

Dr. Saul is living proof that book sense is not common sense. Do you know what the big joke is?
Yes, some parents cannot and do not set a good example for their children, but who are you to say that we are expected to be surrogate parents?? Teachers are not paid to set a good example to anyone. Teachers are paid to teach. That is their job. Just like how being a policeman, doctor, bus driver is a job. I have never heard anyone tell their postman that he has to be a good role model because some parents are not. I have two children that I am a good role model to. I do not expect their teachers to do my job. I expect them to effectively teach my children the damn curriculum.

To ERDISTON SURVIVOR: I do share your sentiments about the poor remarks made by Dr. Saul on teachers. I also agree that teachers should not be made to assume a role as surrogate parents. However; for you to suggest that teachers are NOT paid to set a GOOD EXAMPLE to anyone is by far the POOREST comment I have read pertaining to the subject at hand. Any PERSON that cannot be a GOOD EXAMPLE for children, should NOT be allowed to teach in “ANY SCHOOL”.

@ERDISTON SURVIVOR; I am one of those that disagree with Dr. Saul’s negative comment about teachers in our school system. However, after reading your comment I can only conclude that you are NOT a teacher; and further more you never had any teacher training at Erdiston. My question to you is this; what is it that you are a survivor of at Erdiston? It is clear that you do not understand the role of a teacher, and therefore your futile attempt to compare the professions of policing, postal workers with that of teaching was as best dismal. It appears that your comment was intended to make teachers look irresponsible or stupid, and as they ARE NOT. Your comment “TEACHERS ARE NOT PAID TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR ANYONE” is very disgusting and a disgrace for any responsible person to make.  If you are right, we may as well send our children to DODDS for their education.