Education and educators

In search for the standing point

"The teacher is not Don Quixote who is able to solve any problem he/she is facing and it is impermissible to leave him/her all alone in this fight" - Ms. Beretić, primary school manager


By LJILJANA SAMARDŽIĆ (ljlijana.samardzic@wavemagazine.net)
from Sombor, SERBIA


"I think that teachers are doing their job badly in most of cases. They don't know how to make their subject understandable for us", said Nebojša, a primary school student from Serbia. But, this is not the only problem that Serbian pupils are facing. "A lot of teachers are not doing their jobs properly. They don't understand us and they don't want to change their opinion about certain kids. If someone wants to change himself/herself, teachers don't want to notice that wish."

Students didn't accuse all teachers. They said that there are always exceptions and there are always few teachers who are doing their job optimistically and eagerly. Another fact is that Serbian educational system is changing and every year there are some new rules that both teachers and students are obliged to follow. Moreover, "new tasks keep on coming and we're not introduced with previous results", said Ms Nina Beretić, the manager of Primary school from Sombor - "21st October".

Reforms and new rules

Serbia used to have an educational system where teacher was the source of information and knowledge as well as an authority. "The state used to stood behind its teachers", said Mr. Wilhelm Josef, Gymnasium professor from Sombor, for WAVE magazine. On the opposite, children in contemporary schools have more rights and more freedom, they are active members of schools and that is positive side of modern school. Allegedly, children are often misusing those rights neglecting the fact that they also have obligations to complete.

However, Serbia is not the only country facing reforms. Mr. Josef said that Germany is also going through numerous reforms. They have started in '70s and still there is no solution that is good enough.

No matter how adults find lecturers modern and new, good for children, there are always students who will find them somewhat boring. Serbian children sometimes think that American system of education is much more interesting then their own, but statistics shows that 61% of American students find their school boring (Source: www.nationmaster.com). Nearly half student population in Austria, Germany and Belgium also find their school boring. According to the same source, Belgium has the highest percentage of students who dislike school. Conclusion might be that no matter how modern educational system adults might think of, children don't find school interesting. Serbian pupils said that studying would be easier if they could see, hear or feel things that they learn about - "We easily memorize things that we see on television. History could be learned in this way".

Students in numbers

Efficiency of an educational system might be seen through statistic numbers and reports. Number of children who are out of primary schools is 119,848 in Dominican Republic, in Serbia that number is 8,254 and in Finland 1,957. Serbia increased this number in one year time period and Finland succeeded in decreasing it in few years.

Interesting data could be the amount of money that society spends on education. According to most recent data from 2005, Lesotho is on the first place with 29,82% of total public expenditure. Public of United Kingdom spent 11,93% on education (in 2003) and Finland 12,82%. In Finland, Vatican, Georgia, Andorra, Greenland, Luxembourg and Norway population is 100% literal and the worst is Burkina Faso with 21,8%.

Teacher in society today

Sudden changes in Serbian society led to confusion among pupils, parents, teachers and public in general. Many demands had been made for children, for teachers, for parents and most of them might be unbearable and impossible at this very moment. Society in Serbia doesn't seem quite ready for big changes as it is expected. However, on the piece of paper, on written reports most of reforms and changes really do seem as accomplishment. But, once one enters the system, once it become a part of it and its participant instead of spectator, one starts to realize that situation is far from idealistic. The sentence that new, young teachers, who are full of ideas and will, are facing is "Only matters that any situation is well covered by books and papers".

Ms. Beretić said that in this case "guilt should not be passed on one single man. The teacher is not Don Quixote who is able to solve any problem he/she is facing and it is impermissible to leave him/her all alone in this fight." Many students think that majority of teachers are not doing their job properly, but some of them also think that "their position is very bad. People don't appreciate them enough. They educate us and prepare us for life." Mr. Wilhelm sees the root of a problem in giving too much freedom to children and, on the other hand, teacher's are insufficient. "Teachers should be strengthen by the possibility to punish in a decent way children who are disturbing others willing to learn", he continued.

On the other hand, in Dominican Republic, "educator is a person who enjoys trust of parents and a person who often spends more time with children then their parents do. He/she is generally respected and its opinion is appreciated. Students and teachers are very close, direct and sometimes closer then students and parents", said Mr. Radin, who used to teach English language in private primary school "New Horizons" in Santo Domingo. It is very important that there are no taboos when it comes to conversations.

Ms. Beretić claims that numerous reforms, that were either misinterpreted or misused in some cases, has contributed to lower social status of teachers and neglecting their authority.

Mrs. Conić speaks from a parent's perspective. She said that many people in Serbia do think that educators have good salaries, many vacations and other privileges. In comparison to physical jobs, being an educator is like winning a lottery. But, her opinion is different - "It is not easy for them. Being responsible for children and educating them at the same time is not an easy job to do, especially when we know that all children are different and some of them are not disciplined."

Regarding new Serbian primary school education law, Union of Serbian teacher's has published bulletin as a critic of new law on education. There is also a statement of a parent who said that Serbian government gives too much liberty to their children. He also claims that new law is a clear message to parent that all their trouble and effort was for nothing. "We are putting ourselves in danger of our own children who will make fun of us in our attempt to explain importance of education, going to school on regular basis and respecting school discipline."

"I think that contribution to current situation belongs to schools and their effort to be a "second home" for students instead of solely institution. Schools are enabling students to be surrounded with professors who have alike life styles, who are experienced and highly educated and, therefore, eligible for giving advices and even being friends to their students", stated Mr. Radin, talking about situation in Dominican Republic. Moreover, he also said that school's administration has a high role in building teacher's authority since they are taking care of rights equality among teachers and students.

As Ms. Beretić said, the question shouldn't be whether educators lost their standing point, but how to return it. Maybe TV shows with clear message that one can be successful, famous, wealthy and respected with minimum of education and culture have something to do with abolishing importance of education and teachers as carriers of education.


(Published: 18.12.2009.)