World Teachers Day - October 5

I started my morning with a wake up call from a colleague who I have not seen yet during this trip. He told me he was coming two days ago but he showed up at 8am today instead. Sierra Leone time! He told me about a Krio language manual they hope to implement soon and I hope to test it out as a student. We discussed some of my research among other things and not long after he was on the phone with my past co-tutor who stopped by on his way to Makeni. Spending time in the lobby of Hotel 5:10, named after World Teachers Day, with two Sierra Leonean educators was a very meaningful way to start the day.

World Teachers Day often goes unnoticed at home (with the exception of Finch PS where the Parent Council recognizes it every year!) It appears to be a date with a deeper significance here in Sierra Leone. After a decade long civil war, Sierra Leoneans are working so hard to prioritize education and truly value its potential. With a huge disruption to the formal education system, Sierra Leoneans do not take education for granted. Teachers and students work so hard despite the congested classrooms and lack of resources in many communities. Last night I received a piece of mail at the hotel from a teacher I met recently here in Freetown. She took the time to write and print a message for me wishing me a Happy World Teachers Day. What a surprise. Allan, my computer friend, also told me that schools regularly host an assembly on this day. I couldn’t help but think about home and how in so many ways we take education for granted, often complaining about things that seem so petty in comparison. Happy World Teachers Day to my teacher friends all over the globe. I hope the dedication and loyalty of teachers in Sierra Leone will offer some inspiration to all of you.

In terms of my research, my plans are moving forward and I hope to be visiting some communities outside of the capital very soon. I am definitely going to have to change my method as there are not enough teachers located in one school. Since the Project Overseas program aims to offer professional development to teachers from remote locations, the interview candidates are spread out. Flexibility is the name of the game! Last night, there was a storm with a downpour, thunder and the loudest cracks of lightening I have ever heard. It is no surprise that water drifted into my room due to the strong winds and that the computers have been putting up a fight. Allan has been working away trying to fix all the problems this morning while providing IT training to a small group here in the lab. He is a serious multi-tasker! Hopefully, I will be able to post this today.

….Looks like the internet is working again. I ended up heading out to three World Teachers Day celebrations with two colleagues. We went to a community here in Kissy, to Waterloo and also to Hastings. Although it is not an official public holiday, teachers are not expected to be teaching in schools on October 5th. Instead they attend community celebrations. There was everything from formal speeches from the Deputy Minister of Education, Sport and Youth to chats around a table eating cookies. Couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my day.