Speaking to Deccan Herald, sources from the school management said: “Of the 25 teachers who boycotted, four teachers have joined back to duty and four have resigned. The remaining will announce their decision on Monday.”
Narrating the incident which led to the replacement of the headmistress, a school teacher said: “A teacher of the school had scolded a child for jumping from one bench to another on August 1. However, the student went home and complained that the teacher had hit him. In fact, the mother of the child held talks with the teacher and agreed that it was the mistake of her son.”
However, the school correspondent took the issue seriously and filed a complaint in the Ullal police station, despite appeals made by the headmistress and the concerned teacher, as it was a simple issue.
The teacher added that the Ullal SI, who visited the school, scolded both the headmistress and teacher concerned.
However, in a recent press meet, School President U K Monu alleged that some teachers who have come under the influence of ‘external forces’ are resorting to protests.
Even officials visited the school and urged the teachers not to carry out protest explaining that the complaint was, in fact, given by the parents and not by the school correspondent.
The teachers held a meeting with the support of an organisation outside the school premises in this regard, he alleged.
Meanwhile, the teachers approached the Deputy Commissioner to intervene and solve the issue. When the teachers failed to report back for duty after several requests, the DC instructed the school management to make alternative arrangement and continue classes.
Ban entry of police
In the wake of such crisis, Mangalore MLA U T Khader came out with a novel suggestion at a Teachers Day celebration on Saturday.
He said parents should restrain from rushing to police station every time their wards are punished by the teachers. He added: “Government should pass a law wherein the entry of police to the school premises should be stopped and the issue of punishment should be sorted out at department level.”
When Deccan Herald contacted some of the principals of schools, they also felt the same.
Principal of St Aloysius High School, Fr Melwyn Pinto, said: “When such incidents arise, parents should visit the school and try to sort it out at the school-level. If the issue is not solved, only then should they go to the Block Education Officer (BEO) or Director of Department of Public Instruction(DDPI). Police should be informed only if a criminal case is involved. If you go to police, children will get a wrong impression.”
Principal of St Joseph’s School, Sr Saritha Fernandes, to seconded the opinion saying: “Police should not be allowed to enter the school premises unless the school asks for any help. The problems should be solved at the school level, with Headmistress/headmaster, parents and teachers sitting and discussing. If it could not be solved, then one should approach BEO or DDPI and not the police.”
