#SpeakingOut- What an egregious diatribe!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of Barbados TODAY.

by V.L. Richards, Educator

It was with dismay and escalating levels of disgust that I watched a recording of a prominent female moderator SLAM teachers into the ground last week, in a move which only served to drive us teachers and other observant listeners, crazy.

Much has since been said and written, both lauding and condemning this ill-informed diatribe.

I will not waste time refuting what was aired in the shrewish rant unleashed by the moderator, as that has been addressed with eloquence and grace by others. I In fact, their swift responses served to air the truth which was successfully trivialised by the moderator, through ignorance of and /or disregard for the new and unique challenges confronting the teaching fraternity in these times.

I seek clarity on one matter, and one matter only.

Do her views represent those of her employer? If they do, more’s the pity, as it indicates that the owners and managers of this station have now opted to publicly unleash their disdain and contempt for teachers, via their designated mouthpiece.

While we in the teaching fraternity are indeed disappointed, we are, nonetheless, grateful that this perspective, which was hitherto hidden away from the public view, has now been exposed to the cold light of day.

Thank you for letting us know how little you value us.

Conversely, if the moderator’s views are hers alone, and do not indeed represent the views of the station, should not the owners and managers be concerned about their image, which she has now so successfully tainted? Should she be allowed to use her position as the voice of the media house, as a conduit through which she can spew her personal views, all the while masquerading as a professional moderator, “on the job”? If not, how will the media house address this most egregious lapse in judgement, and, more seriously, the wanton breach of professional ethics? I used to enjoy listening to the broadcasts from this station, but I have had to withdraw my patronage.

Both of the possibilities portrayed above have left a salty taste in mouth, and I can only ask that the station marshall more palatable resources to definitively address this unfortunate assault on the nation’s educators.