I was slightly disconcerted with the pictures of the La Martiniere principal and some other teachers being arrested. Sure, they were later released on bail, but the media pressure on the men is so enormous, it’s clear jail time awaits the masters.
For those who don’t know, the teachers inflicted some caning (and perhaps some other humiliations) on a boy in the school. Unable to handle it, the poor kid went ahead and killed himself. A very tragic situation, and one’s heart goes out to the bereaved family. They must be in trauma.
Now, by no means is one justifying corporal punishment (yes, it’s great that it’s deemed illegal now). But my question is: Is it fair that the school teachers be charged for instigating suicide, and be punished on that account? It is highly unlikely that the punishers either wished for or expected that the child would take his own life. All they did was to break a law… which is to indulge in corporal punishment… and at the most should face some heat on that count. But abetting suicide?? I think that’s over the top.
Here’s why: Almost all of us boys were caned and struck and insulted by our teachers and head masters in the school days. I particularly recall being caned many times over by our school principal, the tough Sir William Dias (may his soul rest in peace, he was a good man!). And it was usually because I was late to school or had forgotten to snip my hair. And many other boys in the school faced a similar fate. But I don’t think any one of us went ahead and slashed our wrists. We used to get annoyed at first, then have a good laugh, and move on. In fact, here’s a funny episode: One fine Monday morning, Sir Dias arrived in our classroom, and he wasn’t in a particularly pleasant mood. And he caned and threw out almost all the boys. Ordering that we must return only after a decent hair cut. And I recall the few of us who were left behind, also pointed out to Sir that we needed a cut too! And got caned and thrown out as well. So about 20 of us lads spent the entire day playing cricket and generally enjoying an unexpected hol! (As the girls were busy mugging away their lessons, hehe!) And no, no one died. And no, neither did we have that hair cut… barber shops used to be shut in Mumbai on Mondays in those days.
Which brings me to the main point of discussion: How can a teacher possibly tell there is an ultra sensitive boy in a school of hundreds? Should not the parents take some responsibility as well, for not being aware of their lad’s fragile temperament? Were they available to the boy when he was feeling traumatised? Had they created an environment in the house which allowed for a hurt child to freely confide in the family? In short, did they play the role of shock absorbers, which all parents are supposed to play for their young children? Some tough questions need to be asked of the parents as well. That would be fairer.
Bottom-line: Yes, one feels sad for the family. Yes, it’s difficult to ask them searching questions in their devastated frame of mind. Yes, it’s a tragic story, so the media gets tempted to get after the ‘villains’. And make sure they go into the slammer.
But, this just isn’t just. Think about it.
12 comments:
We were more thick skinned because we were hit right from the beginning.So we almost got used to it.
Aaj kal parents do not hit their kids so to be beaten by a teacher can be very humiliating esp for a teen.You say "It is highly unlikely that the punishers either wished for or expected that the child would take his own life. All they did was to break a law…." Anil it is for this very reason corporal punishment has been made illegal.Their claiming that they did not have knowledge that the boy would kill himself is no defense.They caused the death of the boy.THEY MUST PAY....DEARLY!!
It is shocking that the very people who are responsible for educating our children blatantly break the law.Oh... and the drunk man staggering out of a pub into his car also does not 'know' that he might run over people sleeping on the pavement. He can also claim that "all he did was break the law" against drinking and driving and had no wish to kill a bunch of people.
The judiciary should make an example out of these lesson givers and make a precedent.Let this be a warning to all such 'teachers' out there to stop venting their frustrations on their helpless students.If you cause the death of someone while breaking the law, you must pay!!
There is no justification for corporal punishment. Just like women's rights were really not an issue for much of last century didn't mean that it was justified. Today many laws are based on recognised women's rights and are severely punishable.
Children's rights need to become equally recognised and made effective by giving these laws (childrens' rights) teeth.
The times we grew up with caning were archaic and hardly justifiable. Remember there were even times when women could not vote, and when slavery was legal. Humanity functioned, didn't it?
So how can we say that caning just affects only sensitive children. We dont know how every slave was affected did we? Every child has the right to be in a non brutal school system that does not cower him or her into submission of his or her true personality.
It is only if high profile cases like above are dealt with effectively that a small change will come about.
when the story broke...my husband told me he was caned almost everyday in school in delhi and so was his older 2 brothers and most of the kids of that school. his mother worked in the same school. however he says suicide nvr crossed his mind, he is most disciplined and i have nvr seen him aggressive.
today kids watch too much tv, they think suicide is a way of teaching their teachers and parents a lesson.parents spare the rod and spoil the child and therefore creating unruly monsters in society.
parents themselves lose the pulse of the child but want teachers to monitor it. teachers are dedicated and try to do what is best for the child but i am afraid after all this no teacher will bother abt disciplining children any more. a girl in blore committed suicide bcoz her teacher did not place her in wipro....students must learn that failure is a part of life
Amrita, Laxmi: you make valid points. sure, i agree on the fact that the earlier gen was brought up differently. And also about childrens' rights. But do read what Jenny has to say. She's making an important point!
Bottomline -Everyone is different
Just because suicide never crossed your mind dosent mean that some kid who isnt already depressed wont take beatings badly, and kill himself
The need arises there fore to make an institution like a school a place where no beatings are allowed just to err on the side of caution..
Also, as a side note many parents I know arent very comfortable with the idea of a stranger, even a teacher touching their child
EVERYONE is different....
OH and BTW, the whole issue of TV causing violence is a grey area, some studies even prove that visual violence has a cathartic effect. (Personally, i dont think tv causes violence. What TV shows do you think Jack the ripper watched? or)
Aggression is an inbuilt force. Ask Freud.
I tell you in my times ( a good 15 yrs ago ) some uneducated teacherS were real ROGUES who would beat us up like TADA Criminals.
I am really happy if these uneducted teachers are beaten up black and blue ....SERVES THEM RIGHT
just wanted to ask anonymous....yes freud did say aggression is an inbuilt force...but it does not justify the teachers beating kids OR the child committing suicide. from where do children learn about suicide???// not from freud but from TV. many teenagers whom i deal with tell me they get suicidal ideas because TV shows suicide as a suitable way to teach parents and teachers a lesson.....
Jenny,
I didnt say that it justified parents hitting their kinds, I was disagreeing with an earlier comment.
Suicide was around since donkeys years, many people committed suicide earlier also, its not fair to blame television for teaching people about it.
ALSO suicide dosent just HAPPEN- there has to be a preexisting condition (Depression, etc) its not fair to say kids just do it to teach them a lesson, i've treated clinically depressed individuals and to attribute their tendency to TV, teaching someone a lesson etc just belittles their condition. There a a variety of causes, TV or no TV. (most suicidal individuals I diagnozed in the wards were semi urban individuals who had little or no access to tv, few of them only had radios)
hi anonymous, since u r an expert i would like to ask you... should not we parents be able to identify our childs depression or any pre existing symptom .....i mean be in synch with our child. as a psychologist myself i would advise parents not to leave children with depression alone. but many parents dont want to face that their child suffers from depression etc, instead they choose to push children further into academics and further breaking down the child. your views???? and BTW where is anil?? has he stopped blogging???
Jenny: hi, am around! Was out of the nation for two weeks, but back now. And reading the debate! Regards.
1. Parents SHOULD but parents DONT
that is the sad fact of the matter
and in such cases if a child is already depresses and prone to suicide then this sort of humiliation and punishment will just be the straw that breaks the camels back
Why take that chance?
Why not just put down a uniform rule that no teacher should beat kids just to err on the side of caution
if a child is being wilfullly disobedient then suspend him expel him what ever..but dont hit
also in some cases the amount of punishment is just a slap or a caning, but in some cases it could actually escalate into abuse , again a uniform rule is needed to err on the side of caution
Next teachers arent that noble nowadays (sorry Anil its true). Many get into teaching cause they arent good for anything else, especially in Poorer schools. Suppose some madman decides to take his frustration with his own life out on some poor student every day? then what? again a uniform rule is needed to err on the side of caution
Also on a personal note I think every individual, child, animal , what ever must have some degree of ownership over his body and mind. What gives a teacher the right to violate that? What gives them the right to wilfully degrade someone?
You are right about the fact that many of us used to get caned but we din't go slash our wrists. That is because most have a secure childhood at home. Children get the emotional,mental support needed from a home environment.
The media coverage has been extremely biased and non investigative in this episode. No one has questioned where the parents where and what they were doing when proir to the act the boy called them repeatedly on their cell phones, or if they have it hasnt been published. An investigation into 'where a child is coming from' is also necessary especially in cases of suicide.
Enough mud-slingling has been done, the home situation of such an incident need not be published in newspapers but if the journalists had done that work, atleast the tirade agaist the principal could been fair and more importantly action taken against those who are truly responsible for a little boy to have taken such drastic measures.
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