New driver arrives AOb 'freak out'
Nominated twice for the 'Global Teacher Prize'. And designated by Vrij Nederland as one of the 23 New Radicals in the country. As icing on the cake, Jelmer Evers, author of Flip the system, was elected as the new daily driver of the AOb.
Image: Angeliek de Jonge
You come across as a combative type
"That's right. I have a high sense of justice. For example, I believe that every child has the right to good education that reduces the inequality of opportunities instead of increasing it, as it is now. Moreover, I believe that teachers should be able to do their work with more autonomy than now. I want to fight for these kinds of things. ”
Have you always been enthusiastic about education?
“No, in 2007, as a starting teacher, I was facing a burnout. I understand beginners who get out. It is incredibly hard work, partly because all kinds of automatisms have yet to develop. ”
But you stayed?
“I was able to work at Unic. The switch I needed. To a unique school in Utrecht with many cross-curricular projects and attention to the individual. There I experienced first-hand how difficult it is to innovate education. This resulted in many complicated discussions with the Education Inspectorate. ”
And from August full-time with the union?
“Yes, I am really looking forward to that. But I still try to stay at Unic for one afternoon a week. In this way I want to keep in touch with practice, with a toe in the door. ”
De AOb is a kind of ANWB for members and too little an association in which members play an active role
Goes the AOb sail a radically different course with you at the helm?
“I do think it could be a lot more democratic in the long run. That members directly elect the board. A colleague just wanted to vote for me, but that is not so simple because the AOb now is a tiered democracy. The AOb is also too much of an ANWB for members and too little an association in which members play an active role. ”
What do you like about the union?
A twofold answer. I see that, more than I thought, much is being discussed and researched with each other. This leads to well-considered positions. But that is not sufficiently propagated and shared with the members. They are also not sufficiently involved in devising policy. That can and must be done differently. ”
Actually, the union should be constantly visible and present in schools
What is the low hanging fruit you want to pick in the short term?
“My estimate is that roughly 20 percent of people in education want change and want to do something about it. You have to bring those people to you and offer them space. Give them a say online, then they will feel seen. Organize big meetups, learn from PO in Actie. Many teachers write blogs. Organize a platform, support those people and bring them to you. Just start, so don't first meet for two years, with motions and so on. Only to find out that you missed the boat. ”
Anything else?
“We need to better organize the base in the schools. I appreciate the hard work of the consultants, but around the time of the strike they came to our school with a handful of pamphlets urging teachers to go along with us. No meeting was held or we were taught to organize ourselves. Actually, the union should be constantly visible and present in schools. Organize lunch meetings, for example, so that the discussion about why trade unions are so important is ongoing. If there is another strike in five years, everyone will participate. Because it goes without saying. ”
