Another example of how dangerous it is for societies to enter the contemporary world in a state of ignorance
Maltese society missed out on the (sometimes very painful and bloody) stages of evolution and development that brought the world’s most sophisticated and highly evolved democracies to where they are now.
We took the package ready-made, had it foisted on us, and embraced it eagerly but without the thinking, the understanding, the self-awareness and the insight, to say nothing of the checks and balances, which would have been taken as read had Malta grown into this way of life rather than stumbled upon it through a few short accidents of history in a couple of decades.
In Malta, thousands of people went straight from a repressive and barren home and village environment to 21st-century Europe – and they haven’t a clue how to handle it. They don’t know what the parameters are, what sort of behaviour is considered the standard, they barely know what to do with themselves.
I use this as an example. Concerned teachers have been writing in to say how uncomfortable they are with the specially-organised parties at which teachers get blind drunk and behave like their charges, sometimes even with their charges.
The parties themselves are bad enough, but what’s worse is that they are promoted openly on Facebook, where the children these schoolteachers teach are fully exposed to how their teachers are rounded up with offers of cheap drinks, cocktails of Red Bull and alcohol at a reduced price so that they can drink more and get off their heads, and photographs of teachers trying hard to be cool.
They look like class A nerds, but the impressionable can’t tell the difference and will see this behaviour as exemplary and the norm. And the truly cool among their pupils who will recognise them as the try-hard nerds they are are just as badly affected: they lose respect for the very people who are supposed to be figures of authority.
Elsewhere (where society is more highly developed), there is a keen understanding of the fact that greater personal liberty comes with greater obligations for and expectations of self-discipline and authority-mandated codes of conduct. A teacher will be sacked or suspended for posting photographs on Facebook in which he or she is shown drinking in bars. Nor for drinking in bars, you understand, but for showing off about it where pupils can see.
And in Malta, we have teachers organising a ‘Christmas bash’ at which the only attraction, repeated over and over again in the promos, is the cheap alcohol mixed with Red Bull. The event is promoted on Facebook completely publicly, with teachers posting their ridiculous, embarrassing and semi-literate comments, some of which I have uploaded here to show how shameful it is that some of these schoolteachers can’t spell in either English or Maltese, and one of them has absolutely no knowledge of English grammar.
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https://www.facebook.com/events/470649622986831/
It gets worse: ‘Police have also established which Valletta pharmacy from which Tanti purchased a large amount of aspirin tablets.’ (Sorry this is a copy and paste so the grammar is not mine).
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/37329/in_the_press_more_details_come_to_light_about_dingli_tragedy_maltas_party_financing_legislation_needs_more_work#.UzKW4fldV8E
Poor children of today. They are bombarded from all sides by evil.
Meanwhile, apparently, it is now necessary to celebrate the male of the species – the Maltese version, that is:
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2014-03-26/news/parliamentary-secretary-launches-launches-expo-4390027273/
There will soon be another one in June/July to celebrate the beginning of summer holidays. Some smart teachers even invite fifth formers to join in the “fun” as well
In itself the party is fun, but it is irresponsible to invite the fifth formers.
It really should be noted that Tanti was a supply teacher, for which one needn’t have followed the PGCE course.
Also, pupils/students understand that teachers aren’t robots. If I’m at the beach in a bathing suit (trunks) should I run a mile if I see a student? It wouldn’t be the first time that a student has seen me in a bar (and even offered to buy me a drink).
[Daphne – What age would they be? It is against the law to sell alcohol to minors.]
Most teachers try to avoid places where their pupils/students go. I am not condoning what Tanti did AT ALL. It was monstrous and he was not at all fit for the job – but he had no teaching qualifications.
Teachers generally are quite concerned (if not obsessed) with maintaining defined lines between the teacher/pupil/student relationship.
I teach students between the ages of 20 and 30.
Daphne, I see your whole point – believe me, I do. However, as Mist Eyre argued, generally (the normal ones, anyways as you always find the odd teacher who loves the attention) the line between pupil/teacher is defined.
For example, I do not agree with adding any pupils on Facebook. Now, let’s not categorise ALL teachers as sex-crazed lunatics. In terms of the Bash, ma nilaghbuhiex tad-dojoq, xi tghid?
[Daphne – You’re wrong about this sorry. I think the main problem we’re dealing with here is that the population explosion has meant a surge in demand for teachers, all of whom are now far too young to understand their responsibilities towards their charges, and far too unimaginative to see how their behaviour impinges on the efforts of parents who face a major, and I mean major, problem with underage teenagers who are constantly fed the drinks message and who live in an alcohol-soaked culture where bottles of vodka and Red Bull can be bought easily at a bottle shop and consumed on the street, while bars have no problem selling drink to minors even though it is illegal. The bottom line is this: you’re setting a really bad example. Young teachers don’t understand something that older teachers do: they are in pretty much the same position as parents. Children are no more better off seeing their teachers ‘partying hard’ than they are seeing their parents do the same, and while they may briefly think it’s cool, the cumulative result is massive insecurity because children prefer to be looked after by grown-ups who behave like grown-ups.
Also, it’s the showing off about it that’s the real problem here. Nobody expects teachers in their 20s not to go out and have fun or have a drink. But then why not just keep it private? Your pupils won’t be watching you. It’s the pictures and messages on public view on Facebook that are the real problem here.
But as a matter of curiosity – exactly why would a teacher want to go to a party with another 600 teachers? I can’t think of anything more tedious that going to a party with 600 people who work in the media.]
I agree with you that no one’s life should be flaunted publicly on FB especially with certain professions – dignity has been put aside.
Daphne, I think that some of these students’ problems is not because their teacher are out partying and want to imitate them but then again, let’s agree to disagree.
These school kids have far more worrying problems than wanting to act cool because is-Sir or il-Miss are out drinking. Unfortunately, the teachers who mind their own business are put in the same basket as those who, let’s put it, air their laundry in public.
It is indeed unfortunate for the profession. Actually, Daphne, for any profession. But again, am no journalist.
Good education starts at home. If all this applies to teachers, we should then apply it to parents first of all.
At least most teachers deliver lessons, offer support and do their own preparation, but unfortunately this is not the reality at home.
Nowadays teenagers end up going home and their parents are not there. And I am not referring to working hours, but during weekends, when the parents feel the need to go out partying.
Due to this most teenagers feel that since their parents are not home they can do whatever they like, like going out again, meeting older groups of friends, watching pornographic material on the internet, binge drinking etc…
Adding on to this, some parents think that by buying iPads, mobiles etc for their children, they will be fulfilling their needs, but unfortunately they are not giving them the basic needs of love and support.
Population explosion? Are you kidding me? The amount of children is diminishing.
[Daphne – There was massive population growth before that happened, Paul. When I was at school 30 years or so ago, we learned the population of Malta by rote as 350,000. It’s now around 100,000 more than that. It’s the birth rate that’s diminishing, not the actual hard number of children. There are definitely more children now in real rather than relative terms than there were three decades ago.]
It’s the fraction of children out of the total population that’s diminishing, Paul Abela, not the number of children or the population. That’s another half-truth from the PN years. Where any discussion about the population explosion and overpopulation was taboo, by the way.
Well, everyone has work parties especially during christmas time and organise open bars for their staff etc etc….why teachers should be different. And I don’t think its a bad example from the teachers because they go out on a night out together and post photos of the event. There was no vulgarity (they re surely more covered than the photos school kids post on facebook). All I can see is people smiling and seems like they re having a good time. Students go anyway and some even go to paceville with their parents and get drunk with their parents. And even tho they r under age, they still get to go in clubs and bars, drink and smoke (Surely they didn’t learn it from their teachers). Everyone has the right to enjoy their lives outside their work however they like. Teachers are adults like everybody else, they shouldn’t be treated different outside work.
[Daphne – I really hope you’re not a teacher, not because of your attitude, but because of your grammar.]
I can tell you haven’t seen the world beyond the narrow confines of this speck of rock we call Malta, V.A..
No, not everyone has work parties in the civilised world. And out of those companies or institutions that do, there are none that organise open bars. Not in the way you mean it.
There might be wine and maybe, just maybe, gin and whisky at the office Christmas reception, but that will be it. To be drunk the way it’s meant to be. i.e. not in the form of a godawful Gekkowk or Votkaretbull by pimply-faced street Arabs with spiked hair.
Well there is nothing against the law in those photos or what these teachers did! So that is your opinion and this is mine!:)
Attitude? and I didn’t read anywhere here that said I have to write plain, long english :) but I guess u still got my point!:)
[Daphne – Plain long English? Every educated person writes proper English in punctuated sentences without teenage abbreviations, VA. If you’re educated, it comes naturally, and writing the way you do is actually more stressful because you have to think about it. Anybody who writes as you do reveals himself (or herself) to be uneducated, university degrees notwithstanding. That manner of communicating is the hallmark of ignorance.]
What is stressful for u is not stressful for others! And everyone shortens words coz its faster to write. U should put a warning sign so everyone writes how u want to on your blog and they make it easier for u to understand:) have a good night :)
[Daphne – I don’t have to. Most of the people writing here are not similarly challenged, even though they might not be teachers.]