Code open to misuse: Principals

NEW DELHI: Six years ago when the Delhi High Court banned the cane in classrooms, it was a move that many, including teachers, felt was long overdue. The latest guidelines of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have, however, evoked mixed reactions from educators in the city. Though supportive of the steps to restrain teachers from using foul or demoralising language, the teaching community is worried over the proposal to allow FIRs against teachers.
NCPCR has written to chief secretaries banning all punitive acts in classrooms, including asking a child to kneel or using words like stupid, idiot and mindless while rebuking a child.The guidelines have also given parents the right to file FIRs against schools.
Ameeta Mulla Wattal, principal, Springdales (Pusa Road), feels that ‘‘banning physical abuse...or any other act which leads to causing discomfort to the child, is a good step. We also agree that educators should never use abusive words against students. But lodging FIRs against teachers for use of ‘aggressive’ language is going too far and the provision can be misused."