Review of Time To Love Teachers
Posted: 09 Nov 2023, 05:58
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Time To Love Teachers" by Hector Mpanza.]
The inequities meted upon teachers across the globe are unfair due to their innumerable and incessant commitments to shaping the lives of both the young and old. According to the author, teachers are the most unappreciated class of people in society. But why is that so? In Time To Love Teachers, Hector Mpanza talks about the unfair treatment he and other teachers encountered and continue to experience in South Africa.
Mr Hector exuded passion in imparting knowledge to learners. At one point in school, he spent R4,500 of his salary to purchase textbooks for his students due to the school principal's hesitancy in acquiring the resources. He installed electricity for his class since the classroom was the only one without power, only for the principal to instruct someone to disconnect it. Hector's allegiance to Nazareth Baptist Church and worshipping Shembe worsened the situation. It prompted the principal to abuse the teacher more and vowed never to employ people from the same church. But how was he unlawfully dismissed from the school?
The author did an excellent job painting the rot and corruption that has filled government offices. To add salt to the wound, the people liable for the discrimination are people of his race. He reiterates that commissions formed to investigate the lawlessness in the country are abused. Unfortunately, the courts that should exercise the rule of law collude with lawbreakers. Lawyers can hardly represent their clients without threats and intimidation by people wielding the instruments of power.
It was painful to learn that highly qualified teachers are sacrificed by selling their posts to less-qualified individuals. For instance, an experienced mechanical technology teacher was murdered, and his post was occupied by someone else who was unqualified. Sadly, the teachers' unions in charge of safeguarding the welfare of its members are in bed with the bad guys. All along, the question lingering in my mind was how a school principal responsible for sexual exploitation, unlawful dismissal of teachers, and the disappearance and death of tutors is unscathed and untouchable.
While the book offers an eye-opening account of the injustices in South Africa, its organization needs to be addressed. I wondered why some chapters have summaries while others lack them. I agree there's a need for emphasis, but some portions of the book are overly replicated, making it unnecessarily long. A round of professional editing is critical to make this book a masterpiece. Consequently, I rate this book 3 out of 5.
I cannot rate the book lower than that because it intrepidly exposes the wanting status of the education system that most countries are grappling with. Time To Love Teachers suggests sound solutions for the predicament and offers an intriguing perspective of religion in resolving most problems today.
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Time To Love Teachers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The inequities meted upon teachers across the globe are unfair due to their innumerable and incessant commitments to shaping the lives of both the young and old. According to the author, teachers are the most unappreciated class of people in society. But why is that so? In Time To Love Teachers, Hector Mpanza talks about the unfair treatment he and other teachers encountered and continue to experience in South Africa.
Mr Hector exuded passion in imparting knowledge to learners. At one point in school, he spent R4,500 of his salary to purchase textbooks for his students due to the school principal's hesitancy in acquiring the resources. He installed electricity for his class since the classroom was the only one without power, only for the principal to instruct someone to disconnect it. Hector's allegiance to Nazareth Baptist Church and worshipping Shembe worsened the situation. It prompted the principal to abuse the teacher more and vowed never to employ people from the same church. But how was he unlawfully dismissed from the school?
The author did an excellent job painting the rot and corruption that has filled government offices. To add salt to the wound, the people liable for the discrimination are people of his race. He reiterates that commissions formed to investigate the lawlessness in the country are abused. Unfortunately, the courts that should exercise the rule of law collude with lawbreakers. Lawyers can hardly represent their clients without threats and intimidation by people wielding the instruments of power.
It was painful to learn that highly qualified teachers are sacrificed by selling their posts to less-qualified individuals. For instance, an experienced mechanical technology teacher was murdered, and his post was occupied by someone else who was unqualified. Sadly, the teachers' unions in charge of safeguarding the welfare of its members are in bed with the bad guys. All along, the question lingering in my mind was how a school principal responsible for sexual exploitation, unlawful dismissal of teachers, and the disappearance and death of tutors is unscathed and untouchable.
While the book offers an eye-opening account of the injustices in South Africa, its organization needs to be addressed. I wondered why some chapters have summaries while others lack them. I agree there's a need for emphasis, but some portions of the book are overly replicated, making it unnecessarily long. A round of professional editing is critical to make this book a masterpiece. Consequently, I rate this book 3 out of 5.
I cannot rate the book lower than that because it intrepidly exposes the wanting status of the education system that most countries are grappling with. Time To Love Teachers suggests sound solutions for the predicament and offers an intriguing perspective of religion in resolving most problems today.
******
Time To Love Teachers
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
