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I enjoy telling people how much I love to teach and how humble the beginning was for me on the job. But not too many are informed that I got a paltry #2,500 along with a Bible verse as my first pay in 2006.
A THREAD
A THREAD
My boss would always tell me then that I didn& #39;t really need money, since “Daddy and Mummy were there for me"
I worked like an elephant but I couldn& #39;t boast a pay the size of the ant. And many great minds in this profession still go through similar motions.
I worked like an elephant but I couldn& #39;t boast a pay the size of the ant. And many great minds in this profession still go through similar motions.
A time came when I decided that I was done being an unhappy teacher. I had to help myself to information about better situations elsewhere and I took the time to acquire the needed competencies for the better places I so desired.
Truth be told, this was a lot of work. Partly, it meant higher education and national service, all of which ran till the later part of the year 2017. So when the clarion call had been obeyed and I was ready to go at the job again, I found out that not much had changed.
And desiring better was now somewhat of a crime.
It should interest you to know that the switch from regular pay to job search was not fun at all. I lost count of the number of places I visited and rejected. Yes, rejected; that was the new me.
It should interest you to know that the switch from regular pay to job search was not fun at all. I lost count of the number of places I visited and rejected. Yes, rejected; that was the new me.
I had come to see that I deserved better, popular practice notwithstanding. But one of the schools I turned down stood out. I mean, it had all the makings of a great school - a fine compound, nicely done painting, fine set of learners and very lively members of staff.
But it lacked structure. The principal shared a room with the teachers and was a teacher himself. This flaw was not even seen as the anomaly that it is, because, even though I was coming around for interviews, I saw it all.
I could live with that, though, but not with the disrespect that was served everyone who worked there.
On one of the days when I visited, the principal was in class and I was told to wait, because it was also time to meet with the proprietor.
On one of the days when I visited, the principal was in class and I was told to wait, because it was also time to meet with the proprietor.
While the class went on, a man that appeared to be in his late sixties showed up on the long large corridor and I observed the multiplicity of “Sirs" that accompanied the greetings he got. I figured at once that he was the proprietor. I greeted, too.
He answered the greetings and went away. And then the surprise happened. This school owner proceeded to the class where the principal had been teaching and halted the class, for what I guess was important information to him.
But for another thirty minutes or more, he had not made heads or tails of the purpose of his barge into that class. I was on the chair fuming like, “How dare you interrupt a class this way" The pieces of advice could sure have waited till later, but oga had other ideas.
With the hard work that comes with preparing for a class, I could not believe that a school owner could just show up in such a manner and disrupt learning. That was the first tip I needed. When the interview finally got underway, the wife of the proprietor had arrived.
They went through my CV and were helplessly impressed with what I was bringing. But they still had to be petty. It was a law.
Looking at how long I had taught, the proprietor knew that what I was demanding for coming in as English teacher for the school (SSS 1-3) was fair.
Looking at how long I had taught, the proprietor knew that what I was demanding for coming in as English teacher for the school (SSS 1-3) was fair.
He quickly said, "You know that you are a beginner in this job, right? Everything you did before you went to the university was illegal. I have worked with WAEC for twenty-six years and I know what I am saying".
Let me break this down: my CV dates back to all I did in the profession from 2006 in detail, cutting across both the primary and secondary arm. And boy do I not have scary results.
The words of the proprietor were part of what I guess he thought was a strategy - to make me feel lesser than I knew I was and then see working with them as an opportunity. But I had seen better and heard better. It didn& #39;t work.
They later settled for a little below my first call but my doubts were already in place. And the wife made my decision easier. As we rounded up discussions and talked about resuming for the new session, the proprietress said,
Oh you were born in “so so so year": you& #39;re even the same age as my last child.
That was it; these were school owners who loved having the daddy and mommy setup with their employees and I had had enough of such experiences.
That was it; these were school owners who loved having the daddy and mommy setup with their employees and I had had enough of such experiences.
I told them that I would call to let them know if I would resume but I never showed up at that place after that day. My excuse was communicated via a call.
I held out until I found a place where I am appreciated.
I held out until I found a place where I am appreciated.
It was hard and long but it was worth it all. I rebelled against the norm and I live to tell of victory.
Not every school deserves your time.
Not every school deserves your time.
