No more pencils, no more books, no more students' dirty looks.
This year, Lily Cole is moving out of the teachers' lounge and into a new offfice to start a new venture.
The veteran teacher says she's anxious for the school year to end at Pearce Junior High in Salt Pond, so she can start her new job as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association on Aug. 1.
Still, she'll miss her students, school and her town.
"I think I always wanted to be a teacher," Cole says, looking back at the 29 years she's spent in front of a classroom, 26 of which were spent teaching special education.
The oldest of five, Cole says growing up in Baie Verte, there were always younger brothers, sisters and cousins around that needed to be cared for.
By the time she went to school herself, she says her decision to become a teacher was made. But there was really no choice in what kind of a teacher she would be, Cole says.
"I always felt I was lucky that nothing had happened to me. I think as I grew older and had my own children, I always felt that it was through the luck of God that we were normal. That it was so easy for something to happen," Cole says. "I was always one of these people ... I always had a natural dislike for people who picked on weaker people.
"I was one of those kids who gave their mitts away when they were growing up," she says with a laugh. "Nothing is black and white, unless you're in junior high."
Cole graduated from Memorial University in 1979 with her bachelor of education and the distinction of being the first in her family to have a degree.
Though her mother was a stay-at-home parent and her father a mine foreman, education was valued highly in Cole's home as a child.
"We were expected to do well in school, and when it came time ... when I said I think I'd like to go to university (they encouraged it)," Cole says, adding that her father paid for her degree and she never had any student loans.
One of Cole's brothers also eventually went on to university, and her sister went on to complete a program at trade school.
Though the children in her family were never expected to go to university, Cole is quick to point out that, for her children, there was no option.
"Someone said to me one day, 'Lily you must be very proud,' ... But I stopped for a second because that was the minimum expectation in our family. That you'd go to university, like it wasn't an option," she says of her three, 20-something children who are all either just finished or nearing the end of their degree programs.
Cole's husband Ken, was also a teacher before his death last year of pancreatic cancer.
"I've been divorced, now I'm widowed. I've been it all. I can tick off all those boxes ... everyone except other," says Cole, who got back on her feet and started taking care of herself quickly after her husband's death. "I have had lots of challenges in my life and you're not really given an opportunity or choice as to what challenges you encounter as an individual. The only choice that you have is how you deal with those challenges."
Cole suggests that everyone should do an hour of yoga each day and spend lots of time outdoors.
Now that her children are grown and starting their own lives, Cole says it was time she started working towards her own goals, one of which was becoming president of the NLTA.
Despite the fact the membership is made up of mostly women, Cole is only the second woman to ever hold the office of president.
The first was Pat Cowan, who didn't finish her term before quitting to run for politics.
The job is a huge investment of time and she says she never could have done it without the support of her family.
"It's that whole element of can I give up my family to pursue my own goals and most women won't do that." Cole says.
Even her now 75-year-old, anti-union father pitched in.
"When I was running for vice-president I had leaflets I gave out - I think over 5,800 to fold - he folded every one. He said I think you're the only union person I ever supported."
Cole will continue to hold the seat of vice-president until August, and was a part of the unions' negotiating team for the round of bargaining which just wrapped up.
"We did have some gains. You can't negate the fact that we got a 20 per cent increase over four years. It's the most money that teachers have had put in their salaries for eight years," Cole says about the recently reached agreement. "I can't say I'm pleased. I'm not unhappy."
The union is still fighting for family days, she says, adding that nearly 70 per cent of the members are women and are likely taking care of children and aging parents.
"(But) the word negotiation itself means compromise," she says.
The issue of workload is one that Cole says she will continue to fight for, however, and her biggest concern is that "nothing else is added to teacher's plates.
"Teaching becomes your life and that's really hard," she says. "Teachers will always make it work. You don't become a teacher to be wealthy ... but you do have an innate sense about you that you want the citizens who are coming behind you to be very productive."
amorrissey@thetelegram.com
Facing new challenges as NLTA head
The new and only the second woman to serve as Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association (NLTA) president, Lily Cole, a teacher at Pearce Junior High in Salt Pond, stands next to portraits of former presidents who were all men. - Photo by Keith Gosse
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Published on
February 16, 2009
- Published on July 1, 2010
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Alisha Morrissey
'Nothing is black and white, unless you're in junior high'
No more pencils, no more books, no more students' dirty looks.
This year, Lily Cole is moving out of the teachers' lounge and into a new offfice to start a new venture.
The veteran teacher says she's anxious for the school year to end at Pearce Junior High in Salt Pond, so she can start her new job as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association on Aug. 1.
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Comments
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- William
- - July 2, 2010 at 15:01:49
Great story of a woman that makes it from the trenches to the top, and help a lot of kids along the way, an all around success story.
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- discussion
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:59:21
I guess that you are a male who has never had to make it as a woman in a mans world. Just look at how many CEO's of large comapnies are men compared to woman. Then see if this is still an outdated issue.
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- up4discussion
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:58:23
great story. but, don't you think stories which focus on boys against the girls is somewhat outdated?
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- Dennis
- - July 2, 2010 at 14:57:33
Great story regarding a wonderful person. Good luck Lily in your new role.
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- William
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:50:25
Great story of a woman that makes it from the trenches to the top, and help a lot of kids along the way, an all around success story.
-
- discussion
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:48
I guess that you are a male who has never had to make it as a woman in a mans world. Just look at how many CEO's of large comapnies are men compared to woman. Then see if this is still an outdated issue.
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- up4discussion
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:46:20
great story. but, don't you think stories which focus on boys against the girls is somewhat outdated?
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- Dennis
- - July 1, 2010 at 21:45:05
Great story regarding a wonderful person. Good luck Lily in your new role.
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