Single-father teacher in Pärnu understands Ukrainian pupils missing their dads
Tarmo Tõnismann, a second-grade teacher at Pärnu Tammsaare School in Estonia, says being a single father helps him understand Ukrainian pupils whose fathers are separated from them by the war. Father's Day is a difficult subject in his classroom.
Tarmo Tõnismann, a second-grade teacher at Pärnu Tammsaare School in Estonia, says his experience as a single father helps him better understand Ukrainian pupils separated from their fathers by the war. His class has 13 children, most of them from Ukraine, and Father's Day can be a painful subject for both the pupils and the teacher himself.
Most of the children live in Estonia with their mothers and, in some cases, grandmothers, while their fathers remain in Ukraine or are elsewhere. Many miss their dads, which makes marking the holiday tricky. "We'll be observing it too, somehow," Tõnismann said. In his view, children feel a parent's absence immediately.
He describes himself as a demanding teacher who wants to nurture curiosity and a love of learning, yet the pupils have nicknamed him their superhero. The class also has an assistant teacher, and the children joke that she is their second mom and he is their second dad. Tõnismann says he is trying to be a good role model.
A magnet collection brings the class together
Many pupils are still learning Estonian and adjusting to local culture. One thing that unites the class is a fast-growing collection of nearly 700 travel magnets. It began when one pupil brought a magnet home from a trip. Now, whenever someone brings new ones, Tõnismann researches the places and shares what he learns, while the children talk about places they have visited.
A teacher almost by accident
Tõnismann became a teacher almost by accident. He agreed to fill in for a single day, despite having no formal teacher training or qualifications. The school principal later asked him to come back. "So I went in, and ended up staying on at the school," he recalled, adding that it has now been 14 years.
Outside the classroom, he works for the Estonian Football Association (EJL), stays active in sports and runs a small sports club. Still, nothing replaces teaching second graders. "I'm sure there are jobs that pay better, but how many people can say they go to work happily each day and do something they genuinely love?" he said.
