JOIN USCommercialisation coupled with the communication systems carpet-bombing information window-dressed as knowledge and media amplifying attacks on the teaching fraternity is churning out a lethal cocktail corroding the hallowed chalice of the ‘once-much-revered Guru.’
The spate of attacks on the teaching fraternity in recent times by vested interest groups and by students has left the community shaken.
“The education system emerging after early ‘90s saw a paradigm shift and several factors are responsible for this downward trend…to reduce it to one factor would be erroneous,” says Gayatri Sinkar, Principal of C S College of Science and Commerce, in the north-eastern suburb of Mumbai.
“In my 26 years of teaching in junior colleges, I feel that a tectonic shift in perception towards education as well as towards teachers started in early ‘90s. And the change was not circumscribed to students only…there was also marked change in the attitude of parents…” Sinkar points out.
Commercialisation of education
A researcher on “Life skills in adolescence,” she says the attitudinal shift towards teachers has been corollary to the commercialisation or corporatisation of education system.
“Education today is not viewed as something that would enhance the intellect or develop an analytical mind. Instead it is a system acting as a facilitator promising skills that would help in climbing a ladder to a brittle glass-flooring of future refracting an economic security in a world where fetishism of money reigns supreme.
Talking of the other factors, Principal of G S Group of Schools, Gool Ghadiali, who has been in the profession for over 40 years and worked in several well-known schools in Mumbai, explains: “One of the prime reason that teachers were respected earlier was because parents themselves showered respect. But today parents berate and disparage teachers in front of children. How do you then expect a student to show respect?
“On any given day you can see nouveau riche parents swagger into school talking brashly and arrogantly with teachers and principal…They think money can buy everything and school is more or less like a crèche for their children and teeny-weeny boppers. Most of them harbour a view that they know more than the teachers because…they have internet at home.
Catering to such fallacious logic makes them roughshod teachers. And this behaviour is then emulated by their children also.
“Juxtaposed with this is another pivotal factor: with both parents working round-the-clock they hardly have any time for the child. In my counseling sessions to the parents I make it a point to explain the importance of giving quality time to children.
But unfortunately it is never adhered to. The result: the simmering repressed imploding anger in the ‘abandoned-at-home’ child’s mind explodes at the teacher representing a parent figure in the school or a tuition class.”
Adverse role of media
Explaining the vulnerability of the teaching community, Sreekala Suvarna, Principal, Powai English High School points out: “…for e.g. in ‘70s or ‘80 when I entered the profession, the media never used to castigate teachers until it had thoroughly investigated the alleged misdemeanor by the teacher.
Today, at the drop of a hat parents go rushing to vested interest groups who aided with the visual media go around vandalising and in many cases assault the teacher inside the school …blackening the face, stripping them…all in front of camera.
“And when investigations prove teacher’s innocence the media has no time because it has hopped on to some other school. And most such attacks have a hidden agenda of blackmailing the school authorities.”
Analysing the fulmination of attacks and irrational behaviour of students, Suvarna feels that the issue being complex needs to be tackled at various levels, including the changes in the syllabi itself.
“Today’s curriculum straps the child into an illusory circular orbit where everyone is chasing everybody. Parents think splurging money compensates not spending time with children; and as for today’s teachers they have not taken up the job because of commitment or passion but because it is there…so there is bound to be a shift in values.”
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