Of Good and Bad Teachers..

1. I refer to an article that appears in The Star on June 1st under the heading “Of good and bad teachers” that seems to strike the same chord of many parents today. I agree with the writer, Tengku Khaulah on how the actions of some teachers can actually break the spirit of certain children and may have long term impact on them.

2. I came from the old style of schooling. I remember some very great teachers of my day but I don’t think I can ever forget one particular teacher who has a great impact on all of my classmate and me.

3. His presence alone in the class will create enough pressure and mental torture that learning was blocked. I remember how I would get a very hard pinch in the stomach, my sideburn being pulled and my classmate being chased out of the class. Many of us end not learning instead of learning out fear. For those students of SRPT Batu 9, Kuantan between 1970-1976, I am sure no one will forget Mr. Yew Kim Guan. As far as I know, Mr Yew still lives in Kuantan.

4. Today, the scenario is changing. Today, parents are scared of teachers. They are too scared to get involved or raise unfavourable issues in school because of their fear of their children being victimized. What is worst is that, the system seems to defend this kind of teachers rather then defending the good name of the system.

5. Two months ago during the a school PIBG AGM, an ustaz who claims to represent many teachers express his anger and threatened that teachers can do harm to their children in public in front of 200 odd members, if they elect a group of parents to sit on the PTA committee. This matter was raised to the MOE and unfortunately apart from the slow paper process, no real action was taken against this teacher.

6. In another case, which was widely reported in the papers, a child was taken into a computer room and the teacher tried to unzip his pants. He claims that he is doing it because the child is being naughty. While the method and place of the child is being punished is being question, the school and the State Education Office, the NUTP came to his defence.

7. The two cases that I had highlighted is not an isolated case. I am sure there are many horror stories out there. However many of this case get buried and some is not being raised. Many parents sent their children to school and leave their children at the mercy of the teachers.

8. While the actions of the teacher concern is wrong. The greater liability lies on the fellow teachers and the State Education Department or/and the Ministry of Education. I blame the fellow teachers because they let a black sheep roam among them. I blame the State and the MOE because of their method of meting action (or rather inaction) against this teachers. I blame the NUTP official who comes to the defence of the black sheep without cause. The presence of this black sheep, actually contributes to the downgrading of the Education Profession.

9. It is time that teachers and the MOE take a serious look at their own profession and stand to be proud of their profession. Don’t allow these black sheep from downgrading the profession further. To quote a comment from a blogger in MT, a parent told his child “ Belajar rajin rajin kalau tidak nanti kena jadi cikgu…” I think the comment posed by the writer clearly demonstrates the state of affairs on the image of the profession.