Teachers Have no Right to Embarrass Parents


While reading today’s Daily Monitor, my attention was drawn to an article with the title ‘Parents, Teachers Clash Over Difficult Homework Questions’.  I decided to read on and find out what the problem was.   A parent in Lwengo, a one Mr. Kato Lubega rightly insinuated that the teachers’ ambition is to embarrass them before their children because they (the parents) fail to help their children with these complex questions.   I have always wondered about this concept of sending kids home with work and then asking the parents to assist them to do it or even review and approve it.  What kind of twaddle is this?  Let’s be serious.  There has been some progress in formal education in Uganda but the level of illiteracy is still high.  Any teacher who sends their pupils home with work (let’s leave out the complex bit for now) and asks their parents to assist or review and approve it, is idle mind with no other objective than mortify the parent.  I grew up and attended my primary school in the late 70s and early 80s.  My mother (God bless her), who strived and worked hard to ensure that I go to school was semi-illiterate.  While she could write her name and count her money, many of the problems I was given for homework would have been beyond her comprehension.   Because of the respect I had for her, her commitment and hard work, there is no way, I would have been a collaborator in an effort that is meant to take her through emotional torture especially when she had repeatedly mentioned that she dropped out of school at an early age purely due to circumstances beyond her control.  Although I was a very meticulous student, every morning I would have returned to school without her signature against my homework until such a bully of teacher gave up their quest to cause discomfort in our household of two.  I want to think that given our levels of literacy in this country to this day 40 years later, there are illiterate/semi-illiterate parents like my mother who give up everything to ensure that their brood go to school.  The last thing they should worry about is receiving instructions from a conceited primary school teacher who demands that they assist children to do homework or review and approve the homework done by their children.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Is calling 'Mzungu' being Racist

My answer is No and this is why. I recently returned home for the summer holidays and literally walked into this row (some white friend is complaining about being called ‘Mzungu’) by kids and adults alike. Coincidentally, I had just returned form Accra in Ghana where I had spotted a letter to the press complaining about the same thing, - apparently someone was unhappy about being called Oburoni (the equivalent of Mzungu in East Africa). Anyone who has been to this dusty town of ours knows what this term means. The children will cry out ‘Mzungu how are you’, the vendors will call ‘Mzungu come and buy’ and some naughty men will propose to white women by calling them Mzungu (you must have heard of the local hit ‘Omwana w’omuzungu by the late Paul Kafeero’. Now, I do understand when white folks complain about a title that classifies them by race, especially when they come from the politically correct communities of UK that think that calling me black is being racist. I have been in t...
Read more

FORTY THINGS ABOUT ME

Turning 40 is meant to be a time to assess where you’ve got to in life and to measure your achievements against your youthful dreams. A lot is said about turning 40, some of it scary. I woke up today expecting to experience some of those things. It was like any other day in my life. I looked in the mirror; there were no obvious signs on my face to show that I am 40. My yesteryear memories began flashing before me as I recollected. I thought of how lucky I am today, to have the most amazing wife and be a proud father of four! While I was still contemplating my past, I thought of the 40 things that have come to define my life thus far. Even I found some of them interesting (and surprising): 1. I have no fear of caterpillars, chameleons or lizards but I would not sleep in a house with a snake that has not been killed. 2. And I’m neither superstitious nor religious! 3. My wife and mother are the most important women in my life. 4. I did not celebrate my birthday until I was 15, even then...
Read more

Getting Married in Buganda

On a number of occasions, friends and relatives have approached me to help them wade through the intricate matters of getting married in Buganda.   Overtime, I have noticed that many are not even aware of the simplest and obvious steps like initiating contact with the girl’s family.   I write this commentary to try and explain the simple but lengthy process of getting married in Buganda.    My post is not based on extensive research or study but rather on what I know and have learnt over the years.   A few years ago,   I used to officiate at Baganda traditional marriage ceremonies (okwanjula).  I wish to declare that I am not an expert on Buganda culture, nor am I a specialist in Buganda traditional marriages; my involvement at such a high level (omwogezi) was at best accidental, although we shall keep that story for another day. Initiating Contact Getting married in Buganda is seemingly easy but folks complicate it for unknown reasons.   Ye...
Read more