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In no way, shape or form any kind of a teacher

Sorry for the unexpectedly long haitus — still having trouble getting back into life not aboard a cruise ship.

I came home to a small backlog of local newspapers, and have just finished writing a letter to the editor I thought I’d share with you.

The “offending” article concerned a local school who had discovered, a few days into hiring a new replacement teacher over the semester break, that the teacher had given a false certification number and was not in fact registered as a certified teacher.

Fine. I understand laws, regulations and such. And, contrary to most people’s opinions, I’m actually a pretty big stickler for them. (I simply believe in having as few as possible.)

But, the principal’s statement to the paper really irked me:

“So, it was kind of comical, but it’s serious all at the same time, because this person was in no way, shape or form, any kind of a teacher.”

I was going to add emphasis, but I don’t think my readership requires me to point out why I’m so disturbed.

Not that I expect this to be published in my local little paper, since I’m sure it’s not a community hot button issue, but this is what I was compelled to write:

re: Uncertified teacher discovered working at Ebb and Flow School

While I appreciate the unfortunate situation Principal Paul Monchka found himself in when he realized he’d hired a teacher under false pretenses, his statement, “. . . this person was in no way shape or form any kind of a teacher, ” clearly displays one of the serious flaws of our education system.

I suspect the tutors, piano teachers and driving instructors of this country (just to name a few) might take issue with that statement, not to mention the homeschooling community.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s fraudulent to claim certifications you clearly don’t have. Unfortunately, our school systems fail to recognize that our community has many “teachers” and reinforces the misguided notion that failing schools are the only sources of a meaningful education. We view “drop outs” as problems, instead of recognizing that some students simply need a different environment in which to thrive and develop their potential.

It is worth noting that in Ontario, teachers need not be certified in order to teach in private schools. This allows alternative options to flourish and attempts to meet a wider set of student needs.

Before moving to Dauphin this summer, I had 18 years of experience as mostly a high school/university math tutor (and owner of a successful tutoring business) in Toronto, but also as the co-founder/director of a private high school, as a guidance counselor and as a classroom teacher. I have no certification, but if you ask the thousands of students and families whose lives I touched, I’m pretty sure they will say I am in SOME “way shape or form” a “kind of a teacher.”

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