'I had a difficult start in education'
The youth action group De Groene Golf has been working on the road for starters in education for eleven years. There is a lot to do, says Menno Kolk. "Good guidance is still lacking."
Picture: Fred van Diem
Five questions for teacher Menno Kolk who is committed to the starters in education.
Introduce?
I am Menno Kolk, 29 years old, working in education since 2011. I have been a group 5/6 teacher of the Flambouw primary school in Nigtevecht for a few years now. I have a permanent contract, after having worked as a substitute for many years. I have been active in the Groene Golf, the youth action group of the AOb. I became president in 2017.
Why the Green Wave?
"I feel connected to the specific problems of starting teachers. I also had a difficult start myself. It started with a lot of substitute jobs. Then I got my first group: group 7/8. That was incredibly tough. I had to get used to at the Jenaplan education, had to familiarize myself with the range of secondary education in the region, I had to organize a camp, there were all kinds of educational-administrative tasks that I had never done before, it was too much, I just couldn't deliver. I received guidance from my director, so that guidance and assessment merged."
How should it be?
"If you are so inundated with new things, you need someone to help you set priorities and clearly indicate your own limits. So that you know which tasks can also be done a little less well. The guidance of starters often falls short That is also a recurring subject in the Green Golf. We regularly organize theme meetings for young teachers up to the age of 35, for example about time management or keeping order. These are well attended. You keep hearing the same problems: that the workload is too high, the salaries too low, that there are not enough fair jobs with decent contracts, that starters do not get the guidance they need. Things are going well at the school where I now work. Young teachers are given room to develop, the school management has faith in me and I get good guidance."
What can you do about the position of starters?
"Because the Green Wave has representatives in all sectors of the AOb, we can continuously raise the issue within the union. For example, in the past we have contributed to the inclusion of guidance for starters in the collective labor agreements and to the fact that starters have to teach fewer hours. You also see school boards starting to do things for starters. For example, there are boards that organize starter cafes where beginners meet, exchange experiences and help each other solve problems. We also raise the issue of starters outside the union, for example in politics."
How can you become a member of the Groene Golf?
"If you AObmember and younger than 35, you can join us. In myAOb you can indicate that you want to receive our newsletter. If you have any questions about the Green Wave or if you want to become active yourself, email me at mkolk @aob.NL."
