Mahama Is Pushing Many Teachers To The Prick

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Mensah Mansa 10 years ago

Does it mean Mahama's policies are pushing many female teachers to look for dic.ks to screw to survive?

Does it mean Mahama's policies are pushing many female teachers to look for dic.ks to screw to survive?
Military Man 10 years ago

Oh Ghana!!
What happened to the old ways of using a dictionary if one is not sure of the spelling or the meaning of a word?

If this writer is a teacher, then our kids are really in trouble.

I remember one favourite tea ...
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Oh Ghana!!
What happened to the old ways of using a dictionary if one is not sure of the spelling or the meaning of a word?

If this writer is a teacher, then our kids are really in trouble.

I remember one favourite teacher of mine in elementary school knocking it into our heads to have the then popular "HORNSBY'S dictionary" as a permanent library book with us every time.
Because of that attitude inculcated into us at an earlier age by a teacher who knew what he was doing, about 90% of my classmates ended up in the universities for various courses back then when Ghana's standard of education was something to crow about.

So sad the standard of education has fallen this low.

I hope this heading was just a misprint on the part of GHANAWEB, and not the actual word used by the writer.
Kwame 10 years ago

Look at you a slave to languege

and not thinking about the subtance of the message.

Look at you a slave to languege

and not thinking about the subtance of the message.
Paul 10 years ago

I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't ...
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I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't be too hard on the writer.

Isn't it a pity we are commenting on a word in the heading instead of the contents of the article? A lesson for all writers!!!
Alex London 10 years ago

How pathetic can we be. Some commentators spend time behaving like class teacher marking an essay, rather than contributing to the issue in discussion. To all such commentators I say to you if you have nothing to do don't do ...
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How pathetic can we be. Some commentators spend time behaving like class teacher marking an essay, rather than contributing to the issue in discussion. To all such commentators I say to you if you have nothing to do don't do it here.
Paul 10 years ago

Since you seem to have just woken up, you are forgiven for your hasty comments. Perhaps you would care to read my full comments on the subject further down since you want to know what others have to contribute besides pointin ...
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Since you seem to have just woken up, you are forgiven for your hasty comments. Perhaps you would care to read my full comments on the subject further down since you want to know what others have to contribute besides pointing out what clearly the author has done which unfortunately misdirected readers' attention to his real substance.
Paul 10 years ago

I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't ...
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I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't be too hard on the writer.

Isn't it a pity we are commenting on a word in the heading instead of the contents of the article? A lesson for all writers!!!
you know who 10 years ago

YOU GUYS ARE DEBATING OUTSIDE THE POINT
THE SUBSTANCE IN THE MESSAGE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED. MY UNCLE WHO IS A JHS TEACHER
HAVE NOT RECEIVE HIS SALARY CLOSE TO A YEAR
IN THE SERVICE ''AND HERE YOU GUYS ARE DEBATING
ABOU ...
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YOU GUYS ARE DEBATING OUTSIDE THE POINT
THE SUBSTANCE IN THE MESSAGE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED. MY UNCLE WHO IS A JHS TEACHER
HAVE NOT RECEIVE HIS SALARY CLOSE TO A YEAR
IN THE SERVICE ''AND HERE YOU GUYS ARE DEBATING
ABOUT PRICK'''''AND BRINK''''PLS DONT SAY DICK HERE
AHHHBAH
isaiah @Hohoe 10 years ago

You are out of play.there is an adage that " to err is human".even there are mistakes in the bible,so what is your problem if a teacher makes a mistake? idiot. Iam a victim to this subtle opinion.2016 will soon come.

You are out of play.there is an adage that " to err is human".even there are mistakes in the bible,so what is your problem if a teacher makes a mistake? idiot. Iam a victim to this subtle opinion.2016 will soon come.
SARPONG 10 years ago

Massa Military Man, the Writer is right and if you would have taken your own advice and find the meaning of "prick", you would have found out the Writer intended to use the word prick and not brink, they are beyond brink.

...
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Massa Military Man, the Writer is right and if you would have taken your own advice and find the meaning of "prick", you would have found out the Writer intended to use the word prick and not brink, they are beyond brink.

Read my response to K. Boateng

Solomon Dormenyo Quist 10 years ago

Sarpong
I do not subscribe to fixation of grammatical perfection and correct language usage on Ghanaweb as the ENGLISH LANGUAGE is not our mother tongue but lets not forget that Ghanaweb is a medium through which we impart ...
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Sarpong
I do not subscribe to fixation of grammatical perfection and correct language usage on Ghanaweb as the ENGLISH LANGUAGE is not our mother tongue but lets not forget that Ghanaweb is a medium through which we impart knowledge to each other so some glaring language usage errors and grammatical mistakes are worth pointing out or we end up absorbing the wrong things.

The writer was wrong to use "prick" in terms of the context of his article. The CORRECT word he should have used is "brink". If he is man enough he will admit so in his next write-up. To push someone to the brink is put that person in an untenable situation where he will have no alternative but take precipitous actions to address his situation. That is when a person will say "you left me no choices" to justify his actions which might be deemed improper by others. If my chain of thought is wrong, give me yours as, like I stated in the foregoing, we are here to learn from each other.
Paul 10 years ago

Precisely the point some of us have been trying to make here.

Precisely the point some of us have been trying to make here.
Military Man 10 years ago

Look... I'm not trying to take away the seriousness of the issue the writer is trying to put across.

I know the meaning of the word 'prick' in all its applications so I know it's just hot air you are blowing trying to fit ...
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Look... I'm not trying to take away the seriousness of the issue the writer is trying to put across.

I know the meaning of the word 'prick' in all its applications so I know it's just hot air you are blowing trying to fit the word into the context of the said article and you know it, SARPONG.

We can argue till the cows come home but what will that achieve? Nothing.

We all come on here to learn from each other, put ideas across and see how other people think of our perception of events and situations concerning our beloved nation.

Stick to your views on the use of these two words in question and I will stick to mine.
Just scroll down and read Solomon's comments and you will hopefully get the gist of all this hoopla is about.

I think it's the best comment so far on this issue.

Have a good day, bro!
K. Boateng 10 years ago

whose prick?

and this guy is a teacher "teaching" Ghanaian children and earning salaries? What a PRICK of a teacher, PRICK

whose prick?

and this guy is a teacher "teaching" Ghanaian children and earning salaries? What a PRICK of a teacher, PRICK
SARPONG 10 years ago

Some of you idiots are too stupid and lazy you defy logic. K. Boateng, did you bother to find the meaning of "prick" before exposing yourself as a dumbass illiterate? How long could it have taken you to find the meaning of th ...
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Some of you idiots are too stupid and lazy you defy logic. K. Boateng, did you bother to find the meaning of "prick" before exposing yourself as a dumbass illiterate? How long could it have taken you to find the meaning of the word "prick"?

I also thought the guy might have meant "brink" so I googled the word "prick".

Some of you think prick means penis but that is the urban definition of the word. The real meaning says something different like;

"An act of piercing something with a fine sharp point"

So what the Writer meant with his title is that, "The government treatment of teachers might push them to act harshly", you got it, you dumbass illiterate.

Now go ahead and laugh about your illiteracy.
Pelicles 10 years ago

Despite being labeled "Notorious and Dictator", Gaddafi will not treat his people the way Mahama and NDC are treating Ghanaians. If we have a leader like Gaddafi in Ghana, I think we would been far ahead than this. Those wh ...
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Despite being labeled "Notorious and Dictator", Gaddafi will not treat his people the way Mahama and NDC are treating Ghanaians. If we have a leader like Gaddafi in Ghana, I think we would been far ahead than this. Those who have lived or visited Libya will see that their former leader was good for his nation and after him, let's see if they will have anyone like him.

Ghana is under the curse of NDC and Mahama in the sense that they feel to put measures that will starve their own people yet feel happy. Does it make sense to refuse to pay a teacher for over two year and expect that teacher to "give all he could" just because he/she love to teach? If those who taught Mahama during his school days were staved, where will he be? I think leading a herd of cattle to graze will be a blessing to him.

Mahama and NDC have no conscience at all and they think their policies are the best there is. There is not logic as far as refusal to pay teachers etc are concerned and those who support this government should bow down their head in shame. It is pathetic, inhumane and backwardness to treat people the way NDC under Mahama is treating Ghanaians. In Somalia where there have been no government in two decades, I do not think workers will be put under such inhumane condition.
Paul 10 years ago

Contents suggest 'to the brink' as a better heading. By the way likening the situation to Tunisia is rather far fetched and does not tally with humble conclusions

Contents suggest 'to the brink' as a better heading. By the way likening the situation to Tunisia is rather far fetched and does not tally with humble conclusions
DR. SAS, ATTORNEY AT LAW 10 years ago

Acts 9:5 reads:
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks".

Assignment: Find the meaning of "prick" in this context before criti ...
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Acts 9:5 reads:
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks".

Assignment: Find the meaning of "prick" in this context before criticizing, oh thou lazy Pharisees and scribes!!!
Paul 10 years ago

If one may ask, WHO are the "pricks" referred to by Jesus and WHAT is the "prick" referred to by the writer? Please clarify the use of the word in the two contexts, so we the "lazy minds" can understand and be 'liberated'.
I ...
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If one may ask, WHO are the "pricks" referred to by Jesus and WHAT is the "prick" referred to by the writer? Please clarify the use of the word in the two contexts, so we the "lazy minds" can understand and be 'liberated'.
I'm sorry but you are not being helpful to anyone, lead of all the writer himself. A real pity coming from someone like you.
Paul 10 years ago

should read least of all, not "lead"

should read least of all, not "lead"

Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the govern ...
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You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the government is pushing teachers to apply a rather harsh device to puit to act/work.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the govern ...
read full comment

You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the government is pushing teachers to apply a rather harsh device to puit to act/work.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the govern ...
read full comment

You shhould use your dictionary........
Pricks are metal pieces used in ploughs to goad oxen to work the fields.
By stating that Mahama is pushing teachers to the prick, the writer is metaphorically implying that the government is pushing teachers to apply a rather harsh device to push it to act/work.
Paul 10 years ago

Judging from the writer's essay, I rather doubt that he would have been trying to use such a metaphor. Anyhow, even that does not fit the content. He started by citing actions that were taken by people who felt they had no ot ...
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Judging from the writer's essay, I rather doubt that he would have been trying to use such a metaphor. Anyhow, even that does not fit the content. He started by citing actions that were taken by people who felt they had no other choice but to take matters into their own hands in Tunisia etc. He also cited other examples and if anything, was suggesting that the government may be 'pushing teachers towards such extreme measures.

That is clearly contrary to your interpretation here, which is the correct dictionary interpretation - i.e. that someone feels so 'pushed' or embarrassed or 'pricked by their conscience' to ACT. That by the way is completely different from the meaning as attached to the biblical application you referred to in your original posting.

Why do we have to insist on a position when it does not really help anyone? This is really disappointing and does not really help readers. Why don'w we all help to keep things simple? Thin about it.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

The question is whether the title could be grammatically and semantically correct. You were the first to say that it is not. I have shown that it could without reference to what the writer was thinking. The question you shoul ...
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The question is whether the title could be grammatically and semantically correct. You were the first to say that it is not. I have shown that it could without reference to what the writer was thinking. The question you should be asking yourself is whether somebody could be pushed to the prick. If a prick is a device used to goad oxen, it stands to reason that somebody could be pushed to apply it for whatever purpose. If even that expression has never been used, it could be originated by dint of error, as have so many other words and expressions in common linguistics. Remember that "Red Sea" was a Jesuit mistranslation of the phrase "Reed Sea" and the former is what is accepted in the biblical fiction.
You are the one who began insisting on an unhelpful position. A fine writer produces a heart- breaking article on teachers, and like a typical idiot, all you saw was his mistake, and you have the ire to call me condescending for trying to find how he may be right. How so stupid can you get!
Military Man 10 years ago

The context in which your quote was fashioned is correct but not in the heading of this article.

What this writer was trying to portray was probably "on the edge of" or "to the edge of" extinction.

So your meaning or ex ...
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The context in which your quote was fashioned is correct but not in the heading of this article.

What this writer was trying to portray was probably "on the edge of" or "to the edge of" extinction.

So your meaning or explanation of "prick" as applied in the context of the article is completely off base.

So please go back and do your own assignment and find a good meaning of "prick" that can apply to the said article and come again.

Remember that a word can have different meanings depending on its application in a sentence.
Paul 10 years ago

Of the over 20 uses of the word "prick" in different dictionaries, I fail to find one that fits the heading in this article. The nearest is perhaps its use in relation to a remorseful reaction, or one of emotional pain, but e ...
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Of the over 20 uses of the word "prick" in different dictionaries, I fail to find one that fits the heading in this article. The nearest is perhaps its use in relation to a remorseful reaction, or one of emotional pain, but even these do not fit the context nor content of the writer's article.

The fact is we all make mistakes and at times we use words out of context. It is unhelpful when others try to mislead by wrongly justifying an original mistake. May be the author himself should read these comments and clarify his use of the word.

By the way here is the dictionary's presentation of the biblical use, which may actually refer to a practice long ago which related to oxen (or cattle if you like):The use in kick against the pricks (Acts ix:5, first in the translation of 1382) probably is from sense of "a goad for oxen" (mid-14c.), which made it a plausible translation of Latin stimulus; advorsum stimulum calces was proverbial in Latin.

DR SA Sarfo (as he prefers to be addressed) should stop patronising others, for I find a lot of very smart people on this forum, even some of those who pretend or disguise themselves in their postings.
Tk 10 years ago

Maybe you should start by setting yourself on fire, then we shall volunteer to be on the streets!! I am a teacher and I know that it's a pretty sad story (albeit some fallacies in your account), but calling for an uprising is ...
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Maybe you should start by setting yourself on fire, then we shall volunteer to be on the streets!! I am a teacher and I know that it's a pretty sad story (albeit some fallacies in your account), but calling for an uprising is absolutely stupid!! Pls, brother Gadafi was a patriot, let that sink in your rock head!!
K APPIAH 10 years ago

look at these useless teachers,keep quiet and suffer, you were the same people who voted massively for this USELESS DEVIL MAHAMAH and his demon government to frustrate us. so shut up and wake in for 2016 and vote him out or e ...
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look at these useless teachers,keep quiet and suffer, you were the same people who voted massively for this USELESS DEVIL MAHAMAH and his demon government to frustrate us. so shut up and wake in for 2016 and vote him out or else shut up
CK Manu, Navrongo 10 years ago

So you fools now concede MAHAMA won the elections fairly because people voted massively for him. Why were you idiots then in court?

So you fools now concede MAHAMA won the elections fairly because people voted massively for him. Why were you idiots then in court?

CLEMENT 10 years ago

This is childish talk from Appiah . What evidence do u have that all teachers voted for MAHAMA?? I didn't expect these words from you. Come again . BEAST !!!.

This is childish talk from Appiah . What evidence do u have that all teachers voted for MAHAMA?? I didn't expect these words from you. Come again . BEAST !!!.
CK Manu, Navrongo 10 years ago

Take the lead and we shall follow. How many jobs has the Arab spring created? Go and die like a dog just because you want some pigmy to come to power. I thought you were wiser than this but I'm sorry, you're an idiot.

Take the lead and we shall follow. How many jobs has the Arab spring created? Go and die like a dog just because you want some pigmy to come to power. I thought you were wiser than this but I'm sorry, you're an idiot.
Prof Lungu 10 years ago

From your essay, seems to me it is the President who is mocking teachers.

READ: "...The President should not forget he said God has chosen him to lead this country..."

OUR COMMENT: Don't believe that crap, or waste you ...
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From your essay, seems to me it is the President who is mocking teachers.

READ: "...The President should not forget he said God has chosen him to lead this country..."

OUR COMMENT: Don't believe that crap, or waste your time keeping up with that. It is hardly the mark of a serious intellect, or you're getting "mocked".
Kwame 10 years ago

Bros well done may God bless u for writing this piece. Teachers like me have nonthing to say.we are just like slaves in our own country.Even a slave ,a refugee is better off because he knows where his next meal will be comin ...
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Bros well done may God bless u for writing this piece. Teachers like me have nonthing to say.we are just like slaves in our own country.Even a slave ,a refugee is better off because he knows where his next meal will be coming from.bros, if u aa a teacher and u aa going through what am going through,then join me to recite psalm 118 vrs.117.so is this the independence we were looking that DR.Nkrumah drove the whites away?
Military Man 10 years ago

Kwame,

I will always sympathize with teachers because I appreciate their value in the development of young minds who I think are the future leaders of a nation.

Personally, I'm who I'm today because of some very good te ...
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Kwame,

I will always sympathize with teachers because I appreciate their value in the development of young minds who I think are the future leaders of a nation.

Personally, I'm who I'm today because of some very good teachers I was lucky to have had during my "mind-shaping" years in Ghana. So I'll always give credit where it is due.

Having said that, I will like to ask you how you personally utilized your voting rights during the last general elections. Did you use that power judiciously? If you think you did and in so doing voted the current leaders into power, then you deserve every single thing happening to you and the country right now.

A large part of the Ghanaian electorate sold their souls to the devil when they voted for the Mahama-led NDC because of a bribe that consisted of 20cedis, a gallon of cooking oil, half a bag of rice and a sickly-looking poultry farm chicken.

Now these same recipients of those cheap bribes are crying foul for something they helped put into place because of their own corrupt tendencies.

So as educators, Kwame, why don't you and all teachers take it upon yourselves to educate the Ghanaian electorate the power they hold in their hands as voters and the need for them NOT to get it wasted by accepting these cheap bribes from any political party which campaign on empty promises?

The two big parties are one and the same so a governance under NPP will see a continuation of what we are currently experiencing under NDC. There are other third option parties out there who could do a better job if given the chance.

So if you and your colleagues and as a matter of fact, all Ghanaians want a change in our fortunes, we should NOT waste our ballots come election time because of the petty bribery I mentioned earlier.

A word to the wise................
MOST OBVIOUSLY 10 years ago

SADA, SUBAH, GYEEDA, FAKE JUDGEMENT DEBTS, ISOFOTON, 8.7 billion GHC OVEREXPENDITURE BY NDC GOVT IN 2012 JUST FOR MAHAMA TO WIN ELECTIONS DUBIOUSLY..ETC...THESE ARE NDC PRIORITIES AS THEY DESTROY GHANA COMPLETELY..ide biiii k ...
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SADA, SUBAH, GYEEDA, FAKE JUDGEMENT DEBTS, ISOFOTON, 8.7 billion GHC OVEREXPENDITURE BY NDC GOVT IN 2012 JUST FOR MAHAMA TO WIN ELECTIONS DUBIOUSLY..ETC...THESE ARE NDC PRIORITIES AS THEY DESTROY GHANA COMPLETELY..ide biiii kekekeeee..
MOST OBVIOUSLY 10 years ago

The President should not forget he said God has chosen him to lead this country. God is not mocked....NDC OVERSPENT BY 8.7 JUST TO WIN ELECTIONS SO GOD DIDNT ELECT THEM TO RULE, THEY STOLE FROM THE PEOPLE OF GHANA JUST TO WIN ...
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The President should not forget he said God has chosen him to lead this country. God is not mocked....NDC OVERSPENT BY 8.7 JUST TO WIN ELECTIONS SO GOD DIDNT ELECT THEM TO RULE, THEY STOLE FROM THE PEOPLE OF GHANA JUST TO WIN ELECTIONS.....THEY ARE MOCKING GOD...
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can al ...
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Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can al ...
read full comment

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can al ...
read full comment

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can al ...
read full comment

Don't let anyone fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let any charlatan fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one ...
read full comment

Don't let any charlatan fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe, Jr., Ph.D. 10 years ago

Don't let any charlatan fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one ...
read full comment

Don't let any charlatan fool anybody here: "To the prick" has no legitimate contextual or collocational usage in the dictionary. "To the brink" sounds more like what the author of the article meant or intended" Of course, one can also "Be hurt to the quick."
LONTO-BOY 10 years ago

I think the writer made a mistake. He probably intended "To The Brink", NOT "To The Prick" given the context of this article.

I think the writer made a mistake. He probably intended "To The Brink", NOT "To The Prick" given the context of this article.
azarman 10 years ago

people will never write any article but they are there to criticize. if you have never make any spelling mistake before continue criticizing

people will never write any article but they are there to criticize. if you have never make any spelling mistake before continue criticizing
Paul 10 years ago

I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't ...
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I take your point but please note, the writer may not be using it in the slang that you seem to be insinuating although I also think he has used the word out of context and probably meant "brink" rather than "prick". So don't be too hard on the writer.

Isn't it a pity we are commenting on a word in the heading instead of the contents of the article? A lesson for all writers!!!
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

I think you just woke up from your slumber......
The writer may not even know that he is "mistakenly right". But as far as there is the slightest possibility that he may be right, you should give him a pass, instead of jumpi ...
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I think you just woke up from your slumber......
The writer may not even know that he is "mistakenly right". But as far as there is the slightest possibility that he may be right, you should give him a pass, instead of jumping to criticize him. Your posture should be that of humility if the issue is with semantics, because there is a big room for variations of meanings.
Paul 10 years ago

Your insults are uncalled for. Sorry, you diminish yourself by that.

Your insults are uncalled for. Sorry, you diminish yourself by that.
Bravo 10 years ago

we can not pay all our debts and others have commited suicide because of this issue

we can not pay all our debts and others have commited suicide because of this issue
Nii 10 years ago

Another piece of NPP propaganda. The "net freeze" on employment applies to all sectors except education and health. That's one. Two, due to the evil and corrupt ways of some teachers who collude with district officers to bac ...
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Another piece of NPP propaganda. The "net freeze" on employment applies to all sectors except education and health. That's one. Two, due to the evil and corrupt ways of some teachers who collude with district officers to backdate their employment by several years and thus cheat Ghanaian tax payers, government now has a more rigorous process of screening that may lead to delays. Even then new teachers continue to receive their allowances. Otherwise how can anyone work for even a year without pay? Lastly, if the writer is a teacher and he writes like a semi literate, then, trust me, Mahama is not his problem. He's his own worst problem. I wouldn't even hire him to sweep my compound much less teach my children. So there...These hypocrites who behave as if Ghana was some heaven before Mahama came to office are the real reason we are not making progress.
Engine 10 years ago

No wonder some ghanaians are this way. All they know is to find faults. Most are talking about prick and brink here rather than appreciating the content of the article. The prick he used is correct 100 percent correct. And th ...
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No wonder some ghanaians are this way. All they know is to find faults. Most are talking about prick and brink here rather than appreciating the content of the article. The prick he used is correct 100 percent correct. And the annoying part is someone here is making reference to the use of a dictionary. Nonsense
Paul 10 years ago

The writer seeks to portray a very dire situation in which our teachers in Ghana find themselves. Whilst his assertion may not be corroborated (and I suspect this suffering is not universal), nonetheless he makes a serious po ...
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The writer seeks to portray a very dire situation in which our teachers in Ghana find themselves. Whilst his assertion may not be corroborated (and I suspect this suffering is not universal), nonetheless he makes a serious point about economic hardships which I dare say affect others as well.

Incidentally the relative rewards teachers get compared to others in society is not unique to Ghana, and you tend to find teachers' unions 'picketing' or in endless negotiations with governments to improve their situation.

It might interest readers to know that in Nigeria, for years now the educational system has been in severe turmoil for the very same reason (if not worse) of teachers at all levels and especially tertiary institutions refusing to mark student work because of poor conditions of service. In fact, in some universities in Nigeria, students have not been able to graduate nor receive their final award certificates because of some of these union disputes.

The situation in Ghana as I understand it is that certain categories of teachers have not been rewarded as they should. I also understand from colleagues in the University sector that some aspects of the dispute relate to the conversion onto the Single Spine system and "back pay", some dating back years.

Be that as it may, I believe that these issues need to be addressed in a balanced, measured and objective way, in spite of the emotion often attached to it. It is also important in trying to get one's message across to a wider audience on matters such as these, writers should try to keep their message simple, clear, and unambiguous, devoid of cheap political point-scoring.

It is unfortunate that in presenting this article, the writer chose a heading which was confusing and misleading, by using the word "prick" instead of (in the view of many who have read and commented on the article EXCEPT one Dr SAS Attorney at Law) 'brink'. the use of the latter word would have been appropriate and supported his argument about the apparent desperate situation which he seeks to describe.

Whilst I share the author's desire to bring the suffering of teachers to the attention of the public through this forum, I also take issue with him in creating a rather confused situation which gives rise to comments unrelated to his article thus deflecting from his intended impact.

To Dr SAS, Attorney At Law, I think it is about time he realised that this forum is neither a court of law nor a place to promote arguments simply for their sake. He needs to realise that a person in his position, if he wishes to have people support his side, and to 'get some serious clients for his practice', should stop being condescending and insulting. He is quick to insult others even without realising who he is dealing with. Furthermore he does not even know when he is stretching the facts and simply entering into legal arguments.

I am afraid it is difficult to take such individuals seriously from an intellectual standpoint if they think that whatever they say must hold sway and that it is the only argument in town. As has been demonstrated by the responses on this article in relation to his avowed position (and I dare say for once I am in complete agreement with Okoampa Ahoofe), he has failed woefully and should simply accept it and change his ways.

For Dr SAS's information, apart from learning the different uses of the work "prick" in the English language, some of us have been using it routinely for a very long time when we conduct certain basic procedures with patients and research subjects in clinical research e.g. giving an injection or taking a blood sample.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

You are so stupid that it is not even funny; a person writes a fine article, and you are the first to criticize it, and I create a scenario in which the word could be conceived and give you a proper context for its use, and y ...
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You are so stupid that it is not even funny; a person writes a fine article, and you are the first to criticize it, and I create a scenario in which the word could be conceived and give you a proper context for its use, and you call me condescending. When I call you stupid, you play the card of victimhood. Now, of all the animals you can huddle with, you choose a half-evolved orangutan and cocaine infested primate to pitch camp with, and you are complaining that I call you stupid. You are not only stupid, but quite retarded. Next time stick to your stupid practice and leave matters of language to the experts.
Kwame 10 years ago

I think that the appropriate word is brink and not prick. However, It's a good write-up and I applaud the writer for a job well done.

I think that the appropriate word is brink and not prick. However, It's a good write-up and I applaud the writer for a job well done.
Engine 10 years ago

If you think the heading for this article is wrong, stop talking about it and come up with your own. Kwaku Ananse people

If you think the heading for this article is wrong, stop talking about it and come up with your own. Kwaku Ananse people
Alhaji 10 years ago

Thanks,u have said it all Allah has a lot to do on judgement day,let them do what they want Allah will also do what He want.I particular don't worry much bcos i beliv in Allah n kno Allah will reward us all.just don't worry t ...
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Thanks,u have said it all Allah has a lot to do on judgement day,let them do what they want Allah will also do what He want.I particular don't worry much bcos i beliv in Allah n kno Allah will reward us all.just don't worry they think the scriptures are just ordinary books.We shall see who is who that day so don't worry.May Allah bless u 4 such a laudable topic of urs.
marzuk Bin Nuur 10 years ago

U see d mindset of ghanaians, people are only finding fault with d few mistakes in d piece. Not considering d message it carries. That is a very bewitching submission he has made. Sometimes I feel like throwing myself into th ...
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U see d mindset of ghanaians, people are only finding fault with d few mistakes in d piece. Not considering d message it carries. That is a very bewitching submission he has made. Sometimes I feel like throwing myself into the president's office n tell him my mind if possible. Its about time agencies and bodies responsible make the move on this socio-pertinent issue. Am very sad...
Kanawu London 10 years ago

Your grammar stinks like koobi!
Your spelling also smells like totobi. With teachers like you, no wonder the country is going down the drains!

Your grammar stinks like koobi!
Your spelling also smells like totobi. With teachers like you, no wonder the country is going down the drains!
Prof Lungu 10 years ago

Kanawu London,
We do not condone mediocrity! However, in the area you touch, there ought to be a balance.

Our sense is, if Mr. Isaac Ofori is an elementary school teacher, or a kindergarten school teacher, he writes well ...
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Kanawu London,
We do not condone mediocrity! However, in the area you touch, there ought to be a balance.

Our sense is, if Mr. Isaac Ofori is an elementary school teacher, or a kindergarten school teacher, he writes well for a Ghanaian.

And, if he is a secondary school teacher, a polytechnic teacher who instructs trades/vocational students, or an instructor of a Ghanaian language, his writing proficiency is as well, good enough for the job. Except, if he were an English teacher or administrator of some sort.

This is of course not to say that Mr. Isaac Ofori could not use some training. In fact, we all do, in many areas, at different phases in our lives.

Now, from your vantage point in London, do you know what/who Mr. Ofori instructs, were he even a teacher?

ITEM: Significantly, this essay demonstrate a sense of caring and positive attitude to work and to the community - all uncommon qualities even among Ghanaian professors in Ghana's universities today.

READ: "...The tendency and situation is ripe for many of them to think of doing something evil to their lives. I know one teacher who told me he will hang himself if he is not paid quickly because he cannot even visit his family and his creditors are hunting...I know others who live a life of servitude and probable could go mad when the situation worsens. Others I think by now have serious scuffles with their partners..."

OUR COMMENT: We should not trivialize the serious subject Mr. Ofori discusses with niceties of the English language. If we do, the only "stinks" we may find are decomposing corpses because "live teachers" are not getting their due in the service of Ghana, despite government's contractual obligations to them and the communities they serve.
Isaac Ofori 10 years ago

brink is such a soft word which cannot carry the meaning of what i want to say. synonyms for prick include: pinhole, stab, and pierce. i want to imply that teachers are being pushed to a very tight corner and is like a camel ...
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brink is such a soft word which cannot carry the meaning of what i want to say. synonyms for prick include: pinhole, stab, and pierce. i want to imply that teachers are being pushed to a very tight corner and is like a camel being forced through the eye of a needle. this is the situation situation teachers find themselves. feel for them and don't judge or over criticize me. thanks for the good comments.
Paul 10 years ago

I'm afriad from your own explanation, the word "prick" could never describe what you were trying to convey. A more appropriate word is BRINK which you describe as a "soft word". I believe many of us like what you have written ...
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I'm afriad from your own explanation, the word "prick" could never describe what you were trying to convey. A more appropriate word is BRINK which you describe as a "soft word". I believe many of us like what you have written and support your call but you blunder and lose support if you don't see the error in the word you used. Honestly I thought it was a typing error on your part but your justification of the use of the word is most disappointing.
Military Man 10 years ago

....those he thought were supporting his use of the word 'prick' because he didn't want to feel or accept that he made a mistake.

Those of us trying to point that out were not trying to diminish the essence of the powerfu ...
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....those he thought were supporting his use of the word 'prick' because he didn't want to feel or accept that he made a mistake.

Those of us trying to point that out were not trying to diminish the essence of the powerful message his piece was trying to lay bare. I personally thought his message would have carried more weight if the word had been 'brink' instead of 'prick' but hey, he was the writer so I will go with whatever floats his boat, although I still think 'brink' is a better word in the context of his piece.
Kwadwo Agyeman 10 years ago

Mr Teacher writer pls stop teaching in the public sector and look for another teaching job in the private sector. I'm inclined to believe you want a job for life that's why you're nagging when there are other opportunities o ...
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Mr Teacher writer pls stop teaching in the public sector and look for another teaching job in the private sector. I'm inclined to believe you want a job for life that's why you're nagging when there are other opportunities outside your current career path. Pls pls you may look for another job outside teaching. Start your own business. The govt needs to tackle this payroll fraud. Why is that when the govt pay the approx 600,000 public sector workers then there's barely enough left for the remainder 25,000,000 ghanaians. Enough of your nagging.
Eric 10 years ago

Better Ghana agenda. Next time vote with your head and not with your stomach or for you tribe. Next time around vote for the person who can do the job and not for the person who speaks your language or come from your village ...
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Better Ghana agenda. Next time vote with your head and not with your stomach or for you tribe. Next time around vote for the person who can do the job and not for the person who speaks your language or come from your village or has something in common with you.
Rita 10 years ago

hmm for me its a pity am just hoping dat one day i will visit my bank account and the money will be in. Am just frustrated.

hmm for me its a pity am just hoping dat one day i will visit my bank account and the money will be in. Am just frustrated.

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Mahama Is Pushing Many Teachers To The Prick

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