Public Comment

Teachers must have high morals

Romila Khanna
Friday June 10, 2016 - 01:04:00 PM

It is very sad to read about the teacher who misguided a thirteen-year-old boy and had a sexual relationship. It is shameful to know that the teacher became pregnant via a sexual relationship with the minor boy. In India teachers are respected. The student, family and the community get advise and help not only during school year but afterwards too.  

In India, 30 years ago, I was teaching students who came from all over the world. Our Indian tradition is really admirable. Students bow down to the teacher to show respect. Lady teachers are respected as a mother, even when the age difference between the teacher and the students, is only three or four years. Students would give the teacher respect and space, and trust them as a guide forever. Even after they leave the school they contact the teacher for their advice. 

I think the relationship between teacher and taught must be kept at intellectual level. It is very sad to know the value of a trusting relationship between teachers and students is forgotten. Why do some teachers lose the thinking power to guide their students on the right path? In the western world students are treated at an equal level at universities and college campuses. At some places professors and teachers sexually harass their students. Why did such teachers not learn to be the trustworthy guides? Such misconduct hurts the teaching community as a whole. 

The students need to respect lady teachers as a mother figure and male teachers as a father figure. This may keep them on the right path. When the school authorities come to know about such conduct, the person involved should lawfully prosecuted. Even when some one gets severely punished, it still leaves a bad impact on the student at an emotional and physical level. 

I think all teachers need to follow the rules of good conduct. Character building education and testing should become the part of teacher's school curricula. It is high time that we have pastoral role to put all students to the right path. If teachers are not trustworthy and have some weaknesses to misbehave with the precious students, they must change their profession. Teaching is not a game of chess. It is not a profession to just get salary but a passion for making a community rich in values and gain knowledge.