Originally written for School Magazine by Nigel Barriffe, Vice President of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto.
I received an email today from a fellow teacher—we’ll call them Bob—who was frustrated that their colleague had volunteered to organize a school music concert. They argued that this kind of “volunteer culture” is what ruins working conditions, because it creates pressure for others to do the same. According to Bob, teachers doing unpaid work is the reason other teachers suffer.
I’ve heard this argument before, and while I respect where it’s coming from, I wholeheartedly disagree.
Bob was upset about a music teacher reaching out to colleagues to ask if they could save a few pieces of student artwork for display during an upcoming Arts Night. They wanted to turn the school’s hallways into a gallery, to showcase student creativity and make a memory kids and parents would cherish.
And yes, that takes time. And no, it’s not paid time.
