The School Corridor Tatler

World Teachers' Day, especially in our country, deserves more than a mention on social media and as a news brief on radio and television. We should trumpet the invaluable role our teachers play. When the children of the poor masses make their way to their schools, they find teachers who are ready to cultivate their vision of hope. When these same children, who are enveloped in the hideous traumas of poverty and crime, our humble nation-builders are there to build their broken spirits. Teachers are ordinary folk with their own vulnerabilities and fears, yet they have committed to their calling to transform young people into responsible, caring, well-adjusted adults of tomorrow. They are the majestic eagles of our classrooms. The theme of this year's World Teachers' Day, is appropriately on teacher empowerment and building sustainable communities.  Although we have a long way to go to ensure that we build our teachers' capacity and to restore the dignity of thei...

The telephone still fills gaps The world is really a global village. Who would have thought that the humble telephone is STILL a powerful social medium tool?  When you talk with someone over the telephone you can still hear the person's voice, hearing all the inflections and the range of emotions that emerge during the conversation.  There is no need for emoticons to say "hey, I am now smiling or watch me crunch my nose". The benefits of telephone conversations supercede other social media in other ways as well.  We can say much more and because of  the pauses created by the long distance travel of our voices, we have to listen more and listen attentively too.The telephone  is my key communication medium with my Kiwi friend, Yolanda. So, say once a month - or sometimes two  - if my dearest buddy, Yolanda, is in the mood to bond with her Seffrican friend, we have our telephone date. Yolanda when she was still a teacher at Grassy Park High School Y...