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Shocking incident

The death of 11-year-old Shanno in New Delhi, allegedly after being punished by her school teacher, is shocking.

The teacher is reported to have made the child stand in the scorching sun for two hours with seven bricks on her back. The act speaks volumes about the teacher’s inhuman nature. Although there are strict directives against such punishment in educational institutions, they are not strictly adhered to. Stringent action should be taken against the teachers and institutions responsible for meting out such punishment. The Centre and the State governments should conduct periodical training programmes for the elementary and high school teachers to sensitise them to the dangers of resorting to such punishment.

Nemani Vivekananda Rao,

Hyderabad

The report of the tragic death of the class two student of the MCD-run school at Bawana is appalling. Violence against students in schools is on the increase. The “not-my-concern” attitude of teachers, the non-teaching staff and parents should change at least now. As a first step, teachers should understand that not all children have identical abilities. While it is important to screen the candidates who apply for teaching jobs, it is also important to stop blaming teachers for the poor performance of students.

Rev. Andrew B. Natarajan,

Vellore

The time has come to re-examine the saying ‘spare the rod and spoil the child.’ Corporal punishment is an ineffective, dangerous and unacceptable method of disciplining children. Its use in schools sends the dangerous message that violence is acceptable. It reinforces physical aggression as an effective means of eliminating unwanted behaviour.

Despite strict measures to curb them, these punishments remain a regular feature in schools. It is important for teachers to be given support and training in their efforts to maintain effective classroom control without resorting to violent techniques. They should be trained in behavioural management.

T. Marx,

Puducherry

Shanno’s death, allegedly due to the severe punishment given to her by her teacher for not reciting the full English alphabet string, is indeed sad. To avoid the recurrence of such incidents, teachers should be given periodical in-service training on how to treat children who fail to comply with the teachers’ instructions.

A. Jainulabdeen,

Chennai

I was shocked to go through the news of Shanno’s death. One wonders what was on the teacher’s mind. It looks like teachers should be given lessons in basic principles of humanity.

Sudha Yogish,

Secunderabad

Inhuman acts of teachers against students will not only bring a bad name to the noble profession of teaching but also discourage parents, especially the poor and the backward, from sending their children to school. All efforts by the government to ensure compulsory primary education will be rendered futile if teachers do not cooperate. It is time a law was made to deal with the menace. Teachers should also be counselled against resorting to harsh punishment as a means to regulate students.

Aman Mohd Khan,

Aligarh

Learning can take place only in an environment of love, understanding and protection. Shanno’s death is a reflection of a deep-rooted evil. It should be made mandatory for all schools to have counsellors for teachers as well students. Corporal punishment is punishable only on paper. Can we write ‘milk’ on a piece of paper and expect to get its benefits?

Prema Raghavan,

Chennai

The Bawana incident is an insult to the very word ‘teacher.’ The job of a teacher is to prepare a child to face the world. Teachers who resort to such severe punishment are no less than criminals and should be treated as such.

Just a month ago, a student died due to ragging in a medical college and now we hear of a death due to severe punishment. Are our educational institutions becoming new breeding grounds of heinous crimes?

Prashant Solomon,

New Delhi

The shocking incident points to the urgent need to sensitise teachers, especially at the primary level, to the human rights of the hapless and defenceless pupils whose guardians they are supposed to be. It cannot be gainsaid that there exist among our teachers quite a few who derive sadistic pleasure in meting out corporal and other humiliating punishment to children. Exemplary punishment should be given to the guilty so that others will not dare to repeat such inhuman acts.

K. Ahmed Anwar,

Perintalmana

As long as teaching remains the last resort in the job market, only the frustrated job-seekers who have no aptitude for teaching will dominate the profession. Corporal punishment is nothing but an expression of frustration by teachers. Children become their helpless victims.

Rameeza A. Rasheed,

Chennai

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