‘Never give up on your students’

Team leader of the Canadian Teachers Federation (CTF) Kevin Gabbert has encouraged local educators to never give up on their students despite the challenge they face with unruly students.{{more}}

Gabbert, who was here as one of the facilitators of a two-week training programme involving teachers from across the country, said in an interview with Searchlight that it was crucial for teachers to try to build a rapport with their students and not alienate them. He however said that realistically, it was “difficult to reach” all students but “it was necessary for teachers to continue to try” since children faced home and other problems which caused them to act out.

Gabbert said that he was impressed with the openness of the teachers involved in the workshop and realized that as with other teachers, ill discipline among students was a challenge faced in schools. He said that once rapport with students was built, the students were most likely to respond positively if they knew that they were being disciplined because their teacher cared.



The CTF team leader said that teachers often felt “tugged” in trying to respond to the needs of parents, the Education Department, other teachers and even the students, but he encouraged them to stay focused. Gabbert, who has also trained educators in places such as Uganda and Guyana said that the teachers here are some of the best equipped professionals that he has ever encountered, and noted that they just needed the occasional encouragement to help them through their daily tasks.

Also reinforcing the need for teachers to bond with their students was Michelle Pierce of CTF, who pointed out that a child’s ultimate goal in relation to his or her teacher was to be liked and to do well. She said that as adults, the lessons learnt in various subject areas were hardly remembered, but the “connection” made through the teacher and student relationship was never forgotten. Pierce said that for a child, it was all about perception and teachers must be careful not to damage their relationships.

Meanwhile, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Teachers Union (SVGTU) Oswald Robinson said that the two weeks spent at the workshop helped teachers improve their skills, and he hoped they would share what was learnt with their other colleagues.

The two-week workshop, which ended on Friday, July 27 was conducted by CTF, the Ministry of Education and the SVGTU. The areas covered included Special Education, Differentiated Instruction, Information Technology, Science and Technology, Testing and Measurement, Evaluation and Trade Union Education.

Members of CTF have been visiting this country since World War Two era. (SG)