Schools across Serbia are in strike. In some, classes are shortened due to low wages, in others "share fives" because the teachers are afraid of the students. While educators struggle to make a decent living and keep their heads on their shoulders, dissatisfaction and despair spills over to children.
Instead of reforming the rotten system, the students get punishment and repression, and then they are expected to be full of empathy. And indeed, they have never been more angry, and educators have never been more powerless.
Almost three years ago, teachers asked to change the Criminal Code because they did not feel safe in the workplace. The teacher was cut on the face by a student with a knife; students in Trsetenik, the teachers slipped the chair, filmed everything and publicly humiliated her; the teacher was beaten by a former student, he ended up with serious physical injuries...
Until the conclusion of this text, it is not known what will happen with the demands of educators on that topic.
Teachers warned from hospital beds that things will not get better because the system only works on paper. While at school, children looked at them as neglected and undervalued, ai she felt that way herself.
Their fears came true, after two mass murders in "Ribinkirar" and Dubona and Mali Orašje: instead of psychological and systemic support, school employees received punishments and new assignments.
Because they must have done something wrong, and who else is to blame?
It could be worse.
And when we thought that all that would stop, there was a change, but for the worse.
The teachers were left in the windstorm to defend themselves from the students, parents and the state.
From a state that doesn't keep its word - not even its signature. From the Minister - lists with the names of disobedient teachers who, when they dare to speak out, are punished by withholding their salary, which they cannot live on anyway. From a principal with a party card - intimidation and blackmail of teachers, honor exceptions.
And the children watch it all. That parents and teachers are of two camps. That the work of cooks and teachers is not valued in the same way. That the promises serve to suppress the rebellion. Yes it is paperwork more important than their problems.
That school is not really important. Neither do they themselves.
