“Third Letter: I Came into the Teacher Training Program Because I Had
No Other Option” raises an extremely important problem of the modern education,
the problem of teachers’ motivation and their role in the contemporary
society. In fact, the author underlines that many teachers have come into the
teacher training programs because they either did not have any other more perspective
options where they could apply their knowledge, skills, and abilities, or, what
is simply cynic, they chose this programs while ‘waiting for marriage’.
Naturally, it is hardly possible to disagree with the author that such teachers
are absolutely unmotivated and, obviously, they cannot be really good professionals
who are focused on teaching as the profession in which they can realize themselves
and be helpful to other people. However, as the author justly points out, the
roots of such a low motivation or, to put it more precisely, the lack of it
may be found in the low prestige of the profession of a teacher.
In actuality, it is not a secret that the financial motivation of teachers is
extremely low, while their role in society, their contribution to educating
new generations and, thus, further social progress, remain practically ignored
and not rewarded, at least financially. As a result, the situation in the modern
education is really threatening because of the lack of really motivated professionals
keen on education.
In such a situation, it is quite natural that the author appeals to the political
struggle of teachers for their rights and improvement of their position both
economic and social in order to gain the deserved respect of society and be
properly rewarded for their hard work, but the problem is that often there are
no historical traditions of honoring of teachers. This is why, according to
the author, teachers should not wait while some political party decides to use
them in their political goals promising the improvement of teachers’ life
and conditions of work but, instead, launch their own struggle on the basis
of postmodern agenda. At the same time, it is necessary to thoroughly control
the current political forces that are in power at the present moment in order
to force to improve the position of teachers.
Unquestionably, the problems raised in this chapter are of a paramount importance
to professional educators since they help better understand the current situation
and the causes of the existing problems in education which are, to a significant
extent, provoked by the lack of professionalism of teachers who have practically
no motivation and their work is based on enthusiasm only.
At the same time, it is even more important to teachers to listen to the advice
given by the author since teachers should realize their social role, their significance,
as well as the fact that they should not be passive in the political life of
the society they live in. Instead, the organized political struggle of teachers
may be a really effective tool that can help improve their social position and
professional life.
Bibliography:
1. Third Letter: I Came into the Teacher Training Program Because I Had No Other
Option
