Many parents don’t know their own kids
INITIALLY, I too felt sorry – just like the writer of the letter “Teachers should not act like hooligans” (The Star, Aug 6) – for the pupils who had to sit on the floor to do their homework in front of their classmates.
Although it appears to be a cruel punishment, we should not just jump to conclusions that the teacher concerned was punishing the pupils with the intention of abusing them. The act might be done out of desperation.
Parents always believe their kids are angels because they don’t know them. Many parents hardly spend time with their kids on a daily basis. Most children are shoved to tuition classes, one after another, and to the child-minders daily, before and after school and even during weekends and holidays. Many parents do not know what happens to their children, how they behave and what their problems and needs are.
They expect school teachers to be totally responsible for their children’s development, be it physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social, and are ready to point a finger at them for any mishaps, discipline problems, academic failure and social problems, just to name a few.
Thus, the pupils made to sit on the floor in front of the class could be hyperactive delinquents, causing havoc when in close proximity with other kids and so had to be isolated but kept right under the teacher’s eyes. It may be the teacher’s last resort to maintain discipline in class and to ensure that the homework is completed by them and the other pupils. Usually, delinquent kids feel no shame where they sit.
To get a clear picture of what happens in school and in the interest of their growing children, it is advisable for parents to visit the school regularly. They will get to know who the teachers are, the progress of their children and be familiar with the culture of the school.
Where bullying and extortion by pupils occur frequently and if their own child is affected, their regular presence in school does help to protect their child.
Currently, teachers’ woes are unending. They are bogged down by miscellaneous duties and activities, besides having to teach big classes of restless pupils. It is unrealistic for parents to expect teachers to be supermen or superwomen and to pass on all their responsibilities to them.
Instead, they could cooperate with teachers, be understanding of the teachers’ plight and volunteer their services within their capacities to improve school discipline, academic achievements and sports performance, among other things. In some countries in the West, parents even volunteer to be involved in the welfare of the schools.
TAN LEE HUAN,
Bukit Mertajam.
