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| Mathematics teacher showing pupils geometry during a mathematics class |
My main drive goes especially towards addressing the plight of their children.
Indeed teachers have or usually raise their progenies in a way that is a little
bit different from the other parents. Have you ever asked yourself why teachers
have a high percentage of their children going for some of the best
courses on offer in universities?
As a
matter of fact teachers have children who are bright or end up being bright and
intellectually savvy. Some of the children who take the top positions in class
are usually the children of teachers. Let me confess that though I am
not the child of a tutor, my mum had the character of one. But that was just
a by the way. None of my parents ventured in the teaching profession.
So what makes the children of teachers tick? I have done a little bit of
research and decided to debunk the myth. Let me say that I also stand to
be corrected. The second president of Kenya was a teacher so was the First
President of Tanzania and Vice President of Kenya.
There is one thing that is not in doubt about these children. They have
availability of resources and are usually under the care of their parents. This
is not to say that all the children of teachers are smart and have such
trappings. Some are indeed not book smart but they compensate by being great
athletes or actors or some end up being the average Jane or John and others dump asses.
Again I have to say most teachers are usually among the most educated in their
localities. This makes them not only very influential but also they become the
role models and persons that society can look up to. In this regard they
usually raise their children with the mentality that they are the victors and
they should never let them down by failing perpetually but by struggling
hard especially academically. Plus teachers know how to effectively apply the
rod. It is said spare the rod spoil the child.
The children of teachers also usually get challenges in life. This is
because most teachers by Kenyan standards are paid peanuts (I am not sure of
that currently). This means they are not able to procure some of the luxurious
items that their children only read about or see on TV. Albeit most teachers
usually have televisions in the houses and have ease of acquisition of books.
This motivates most of the children of teachers to work very hard in the hope
that someday they will own or enjoy the fruits that come with passing exams.
The myths aside, I would like to say that some of the prominent members of my extended family had their parents as teachers. Those whose parents were teachers are the
ones who went to university at a time when it was a matter of privilege and
status to go to university. Currently any Tom, Dick and Harry can attend
university provided you have money.
While in campus, most of my friends were the sons and daughters of teachers.
Being in the best University in Kenya is not a mean feat especially due to the
fact that we were JAB students. That notwithstanding, these students were
bright and I can attest to the fact that they came to campus with the mindset
that ‘I must get First Class’.
Prominent figures I have to allude to in Kenya who had a parent(s) as a teacher
include but not limited to Gideon Moi and siblings, Raila Odinga and siblings,
and Joshua Oigara and sibling(s). Now you understand teachers are very
important in any society.
Sometimes back in high school a teacher asked my fellow students about who
wanted to be a teacher. None raised his hand up. Some did not out of fear most
as students had big dreams of being medical doctors, engineers, lawyers,
actuaries and all the fancy careers that have eye catching titles. In the end
very few of my classmates who went to campus became teachers.
Flash-forward and many have completed university. Those who took up the
teaching profession either through coercion or by choice are the ones laughing
all the way to the bank. Schools are set up daily and the demand for teachers
far outstrips supply. Those of us who went in unknown careers are still
tarmacking after graduation. The good thing is that none is regretting. I have
to underscore the fact that the teaching profession is the best going by our
country demands as a developing country.
On my side, I remember my mum beseeching me to opt for a profession in
pedagogy. I don’t regret having not taken the advice. My family has a
proliferation of teachers and it’s only fair that we diversify. But I have not
placed a permanent caveat in one day deciding to try the profession which in my
opinion is more about giving back to the society.
SITUONANE.
SITUONANE.
