Teacher, leave the kids alone

Mrityunjay Ram / TNN / Aug 31, 2005, 00:55 IST

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AP government wants to deter teachers from addressing pupils as duffer, idiot and fool.

HYDERABAD: Teachers beware! Think twice before rebuking a student, because that can land you in trouble. The AP government now wants to deter teachers from addressing their pupils as 'duffer', 'idiot' and 'fool.' Reason: There have been increasing incidents of students becoming psychologically disoriented and even committing suicide after suffering constant verbal abuse by their teachers.
Class 10 student S J Athaulla of Jangaon in Warangal district killed himself a few days ago after he was allegedly abused by his mathematics teacher and forced to wear a slate round his neck with the words 'idiot and fool" written on it.
"In this light, we have decided to bring in a new set of professional ethics and a revised code of conduct for teachers.We will ask them to hone their persuasive skills and child management tactics," school education minister N Rajyalakshmi told The Times of India.
With corporal punishment banned, teachers say they have to resort to verbal admonishment to discipline children. But the minister says this can go too far. Therefore the new rules. Before drafting the new guidelines, interactions will be held with teachers, parents and other stakeholders, the minister said.

Children welcomed the idea. "It is cruel to harass us in the name of discipline,'' said M Avinash of Hyderabad Public School.
However, teachers took it with a pinch of salt. "It is tough to control students without physical and psychological punishment. If the government wants to ban even admonishment, then teachers have to be trained in the art of persuasion. They should not be held responsible if students do not behave or perform well," says a teacher, K Nalini of Paramount School.

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