Words and their applications mean a lot in communication. The president knows this more than many of his compatriots because he pursued a post-graduate diploma course in communications. He should know better how to manage words in his communications with the citizens he rules as president.
A few days ago, he had the opportunity of addressing the nation – an engagement specially arranged to allow presidential candidates to open up themselves so the electorate can make informed decisions as to who to support in the forthcoming polls.
For those who cared to listen, they heard him loud and clear. Those who did not got snippets of it and wondered whether they heard the relayed information right. They did not believe whether the president could communicate so recklessly the way he did, especially, if he sought to influence positively the people of this country.
Were marks to be awarded, he would have been marked down woefully. Teachers are particularly peeved that the president spoke about their profession with little or no deference. There was no subtlety in the presentation and so President Mahama ended up regarding teaching with contempt.
He could have handled that aspect of his delivery by not referring to himself as a teacher at all – which he was not anyway. He was only engaged in teaching as an occupation and not a profession. There are others who pursued teaching programme as a profession. Such persons have learnt the art of teaching, passed out as professional teachers, engaged in it and therefore see it as a means of obtaining their livelihood.
For those who for want of an occupation or a means of sustenance – as they ferret for something close to their hearts, turn to the classroom with no knowledge of education or its skills – they cannot be called teachers. They are just passing through; as someone would describe such persons.
Indeed, in some dispensations, teachers are licensed, just so only qualified ones stay in the classroom or lecture halls to impart knowledge in the prescribed form.
Teaching is a serious profession which should not be left in the hands of those only passing through as in the case of the president who had just finished his first degree programme, majoring in History. If he does not feel inclined to render some respect to the profession, so be it, but he should refrain from looking down upon it in the full glare of Ghanaians. It is possible to have some kids create a negative impression through the president’s inference about teaching by considering it a lesser profession unworthy of pursuing.
It is already an endangered profession – many teachers leaving the classroom for other occupations – given the non-recognition of their contribution to the development objective as the president has done under a bad government.
Imagine the fallout of all teachers turning their attention from the classroom: the country would be saddled with the dearth of teachers.
A president must be mindful about details, especially in speeches, because they influence the impressions about him.
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