Are we prostituting our live for money, rather than a purpose?

I have recently facilitated a workshop for principals and deputies in the Insikazi circuit, based in Hazyview in Mpumalanga.  This event was made possible through the leadership of the local circuit manager, who listened to a conversation I had in Nelspruit, and thought I can contribute to the enhancement and empowerment of his principals.

The workshop was conducted over two days, and focused on Curriculum Management by school leaders.  It involved 10 sessions, with an introductory session on the 'status of education in South Africa'.  This introductory session was the same one I briefly spoke about in an interview on Morning Live, one of the premier morning shows in South Africa (I included the video in my previous blog).

The conclusion to the two days deliberation was that we, as adult, can turn around the dismal state of education, by just making a choice to do things differently, and to focus more on the interest of the students rather than that of the adults.  Currently, the only beneficiaries of the huge budget that is spent on education, are the adults in the system.  The money is used for promotions, establishment of units and commissions, new and more senior positions at departmental level, etc.  And it is all assumed that the money that is let loose at the highest level, will eventually trickle down to the learners.

As discussed with colleagues during the workshop, I posted the following question: Are we prostituting our lives for money?  Are we only in the profession for the money.  Obviously the money or salary that we are earning is important, but it can't be the only thing that is important!  And to test this phenomena is when you are not happy to be a teacher, but you are just hanging in there for the money.  You doing it for the money because of the debt, to put food on the table, etc.  We end up living from the one salary to the next, with no visible impact in the lives of others, since we are only 'takers' rather than 'givers' in the overall system.

Should we have these tough conversations with ourselves?

Its a matter of Choice

I have been caught up with two appearances on Morning Live, the most premier breakfast show in South Africa.  In particular, the first interview focused on the turnaround work I do in dysfunctional and underperforming school, leading from a presentation I made at a TeachSA conference.  The two slides which the television presenter was interested in were, (i) the fact that if we compare the results of our learners with that of Singapore, our best learners will be regarded as part of the worst learners in Singapore, and (ii) the fact that we have four types of schools namely high functioning schools (about 20%), underperforming schools (about 50%), dysfunctional schools (about 20%) and chaotic schools (about 10%).  Learners who are attending chaotic schools will be better off by staying at home, rather than going to these schools since they will only learn 'negative' (how not to do things) things in these schools.

Despite the dismal state of affairs in relation to our education results, I concluded that we can turn around these dysfunctional and underperforming schools, if we want to.  It is a matter of CHOICE!  And choice is action, not thinking or contemplating.  It is when you decide that you are no longer going to be happy, or do nothing about the state of affairs in education.  Any rationalisation of the current state, and/or finding excuses why things are they way they are, is certainly NOT A CHOICE.  It is when you start doing something - start applying your power, right or liberty to choose a different pathway, no-matter what the personal consequences will be - people will see in your action what your choice has been.  And you don't need to explain it to them, your action or even no-action will indicate to them your choice.

I link you up with the interview, whoever is interested.