‘Omo teacher’ which means teacher’s child is used to refer to children whose parent(s) is a teacher. If you are a teacher’s child, you agree with me that being born by a teacher comes with its perks and drawbacks. Sometimes you brag about your mum or dad being a teacher, and at times you hide that status, just because…
Today, as we celebrate teachers worldwide, let’s take a look at how society expects us the omo teachers to live; how annoying and amazing it can be and how we actually feel.
My mum is a retired teacher. She began her career with the Lagos state government in 1985 and retired in March 2020 as an assistant director of education. It was fun and scary growing up, and after all, we turned out good.
Primary school is the only time I enjoyed the privilege of being a teacher’s kid, as the teachers will give you this special preference. Thinking about it now, I believe it was because they don’t want their work criticised by another professional, so they put in the effort to make sure your school work is in sync with the curriculum. This however also depends on the level of your parent’s education and expertise and the school where they teach.
Now if you’re brilliant, you get the ‘come and show the class how to spell this, or work this math.’ This is the moment of shine, but if you don’t know it, you’re done for.
Punishment is the same on all levels, you get extra punishment when it affects schoolwork, the ‘you should know this’ statement starts flying like you are different from other kids; hello! my mum goes to work like every other parent too.
It is certain you’ll be a school prefect, I was the assistant head girl, I got the post because I was a brilliant student, If I wasn’t as brilliant maybe I would have been given some other school prefect role.
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Secondary school is another ball game, there are more students, so you might be lucky not to be noticed, but if you attend the school your parent(s) is teaching, you will enjoy the perks of avoiding punishment, you’ll rarely be hungry, but you will have to pay back by being responsible, brilliant, and run errands for every member of staff in the school.
There is always one teacher who is not charmed by your omo teacher status, you’ll never escape punishment from these ones. No need to call your mum or dad, because it’s useless.
Being in a school without your parent(s) has its perks too, you get to mingle like every other student, no one will threaten to report you to your mum/dad.
You can’t lose character because the day they visit (open day) and tell your class teacher, your character before the revelation will determine what happens after. Be rest assured, every teacher in the school will find out too and you are no longer safe.
On the home front, I never experienced reading at home, after homework is done, play is next. We only read close to exams. My mum was the disciplinarian, when we offend, the fear that grips you knowing mummy must not hear was dreadful.
Today I celebrate my mum and every good teacher out there, without you the foundation of every child would be crooked. On behalf of other omo teachers, we say thank you for not neglecting your children at the expense of other people’s kids.
We will keep making you proud, even as we are proud of you.
