In the 1950s, most societal innovations were to be found among teachers. These teachers had the cleanest homes, the most modern structures.
If they were not teachers themselves, their wives ran some of the most successful shops or other commercial ventures. Their children were to be admired for their above-average lifestyle.
Indeed, a lot of children went to school with the hope of one day becoming teachers. Parents of daughters, who were not teachers, looked forward to marrying them off to instructors.
Looking back, it seems so long ago that society looked up to teachers. Those in the profession are looking to escape, while few are making teaching their initial career choice. So, between the 1950s and today, where did it all go wrong? Why is the profession looked down on by society, despite being so influential?
One reason regularly provided is the low regard for teaching by the state, through poor remuneration. But as educationist Fagil Mandy puts it, teachers have also not helped.
He is disappointed that very few teachers save enough money for a rainy day. He argues that even worse, fewer still are using their revenue to add value to their lives, preferring, instead, to indulge in a reckless lifestyle.
Thus it is not unusual to find a teacher in a drunken stupor at 8am. To add to the miserable picture, the teacher would be in tattered and dirty clothing, with some evidence that they had not bathed recently. The sight of these teachers, who look worse than street urchins, makes for a miserable teaching environment.
Back in the 1950s, it was also unheard of, teachers sexually preying on their young learners. This is a humble appeal to teachers to do something about their image. For every teacher who blames their low pay for poor conduct, there is also one who clearly is lacking in basic ethics.
Teachers should reclaim their place in society as the source of innovation. We need to see teachers who embrace social media and information technology to direct where the world should go. We also need to see teachers who look informed, interesting and keen on life. The desperate picture seen fairly regularly in the rural areas needs to stop forthwith – low pay or not.
school@observer.ug