Teachers Who Savage Children Must Be Removed From Schools.
Today I witnessed a mother trying to comfort her daughter, whose teacher had just bullied the child in class until she broke down and cried, on her birthday! All because she failed to return a book in time. The child was embarrassed in front of the class on a day when she expected to be celebrated.
The matter struck me hard as I remembered a young man, whose school permanently damaged his ability to graduate, when his first experience of crossing the stage to receive his certificate was denied, because he forgot to return a book.
Whereas the young man qualified in his courses of study in several schools, he never was certified, thereby leaving him feeling incomplete in his education.
Teachers are vocational minded persons whose influence, good or bad, is remembered by their charges forever. Who cannot remember the slap of a white teacher in a black school where corporal punishment is banned?
Teachers are no longer the paragons of virtue, the nurturers of young minds, on whom parents depend to help raise our children, as future leaders and workers on our little island, in a changing world.
It is now just a job, and as our cockeyed, colonial, educational system is still not serving the needs of a growing nation, both teachers and students are on a conveyor belt going around the same course of one hundred years ago.
Education that is not applicable to current demands of a small island in the Caribbean is a waste of time and money, and ends up being just babysitting.
Schools and the UWI are not serving the needs of a small growing society, which requires trained talent which can be applied to established planning. Teachers are the discoverers of our local talent and are expected to help to guide it in the right direction.
Parents and teachers produce our experts, our leaders, our thieves and our killers.
As we have heard the psychologists say life from 0-7 years decides the future of a child. And if the foundation is unsure, and the child is not mentally and physically cared for with love and learning, the result is woefully damaging to their future. Just as an officer of the Police or Military are chosen for character, more so should teachers be seriously evaluated, to rule out bullies and perverts, from the honored vocation of teaching.
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Yall need stop posting propaganda in the media. Returning books to a school is a part of many school criteria to walk for graduation. Graduation is a privilege NOT a must. A student who completed 5th form would not fail to be certified, they just wouldn’t get the photo op of walking across the stage. Many persons don’t go to graduation for many reasons but they receive their certificates. If the young man you claim to remember was not certified it was because filled to pass his certification not because he was unable to walk for graduation. In university, you won’t be able to graduate until ALL fees are paid, books are returned and ALL courses passed. Why do we act so brand new in Antigua when standards are set for completion and we choose not to follow. The young would have been told what he needed to do in order to graduate. He didn’t forget, he chose not to return it.
Your concerns are deeply valid and reflect a painful truth that many parents and students endure in silence. No child should be humiliated, especially not by the very individuals entrusted with their development, protection, and encouragement. The situation you described is more than just poor judgment; it’s emotional abuse, and it has no place in any classroom.
Teachers hold immense power. A single kind word or cruel remark can stay with a student for life. When that power is misused, it damages not only the child but the integrity of the education system. Accountability is essential. We must demand that teachers, like other public servants, meet a standard of empathy, professionalism, and respect. Those who fail, especially repeatedly and without remorse, must be removed for the good of our children and society at large.
But beyond individual cases, you rightly point to systemic issues: a colonial-style education system still training students for a world that no longer exists. It’s disheartening that in 2025, many of our institutions are still misaligned with the real needs of our communities. We need education that empowers local talent, fosters critical thinking, and meets the economic and cultural needs of our island nations.
The call here is not just for disciplinary action against one teacher, it is for a complete reassessment of who we allow to shape young minds and how we design education to serve a hopeful, thriving future.
Quite rightly so, Trained Teacher. I taught more than 3 decades before leaving due to health issues. Teaching has to go beyond a clinical performance of duties. A real teacher is empathetic. He/she protects the children from verbal and physical attacks from others. They should be a confidential ear, a booster other confidence, someone to celebrate the children ‘s slightest improvements!
Unfortunately, we have sterile teachers in our system. The spit out information. They mark. It is either righting wrong. They no longer correct work! They do not pick up on learning challenges in students.if they fo, they write them off as failures! They do not find ways to remediate or help. They do not reach out to the parents to work out the concerns. As a matter if fact, one teacher said nobody helped her buy her phone so she do have to have them call her on it!
If a student has a particular weakness, it does the child no good to call the child to the board to embarrass them in front of their.peers, especially if you know the child has NOT gradped the concept. Further, the child is already feeling inadequate, embarrassed, and now you punish the child by letting them stand for the remainder of the session! That is not being a good teacher!
All teachers are not like that, Ihadten to say! I have met some who are like a breath of fresh air on a foul day! I say kudos to those!
Teaching is availing! It is not a job! If you are not called, find another job! The most refreshing reward I have received is to hear past students thank me for believing in them and cheering them on to success!