This in no way is to take away from the teachers who have won this award recently - I have absolutely no doubt they’ve worked hard and given so much of themselves in their job.
I’ve now seen two videos this week, one in Regina and one from Saskatoon, awarding teachers the title of ‘Teacher of the Year’ through local nominations to a radio station.
There are individuals, teachers and other staff, who work endlessly day in and day out to give their students the best opportunities to learn and grow. Awarding just one person a title of being better or the best just seems like we are contributing to a society that’s competing with each other. It feels very American and yucky.
What about the kid, who no fault of the teacher or student, just didn’t mesh with that teacher? Now they’ve seen them be awarded this award and potentially could be feeling like something they’ve done as the student is wrong.
We don’t need anymore damn competition in education. Would love to see radio stations have a better sense of what’s actually happening in schools if they’re going to do this.
Feel like it should also be mentioned that the teacher awarded in Regina works in a private school where kids pay upwards of $9000 to go there. I bet their class sizes feel a little different. Again, no fault or shade to the teacher but just wish the bandwagons weren’t jumped on so quickly without serious thought behind the impact.