A teacher of a Chennai Corporation-run school attempted suicide by consuming acid on Thursday, after he was pulled up by a visiting education officer in front of fellow teachers.
The officer had questioned four science teachers on the status of students' practical-record books, but they replied that since the school was observing its annual day on Thursday, they would submit him the status the day after. At this, the officer had threatened to issue them memos.
“He called me from the school and he was in tears. He is a sincere and hard working teacher. Later, I came to know that he drank acid and was in the hospital,” said Sangeetha, wife of P. Jagatheeswaran (41), a teacher at Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School in Korukkupet.
The school was celebrating its annual day on Thursday and K. Ravichandran, the education officer, was one of the guests. He summoned four science teachers, including Mr. Jagatheeswaran, and questioned them about the practical-record books.
“He shouted at us for not having signed the books on time and threatened to give us memos,” said V. B. Bhuvaneswari, one of the teachers to be summoned to the headmaster's room.
Following this, Mr. Jagatheeswaran went to the science lab and called his wife before taking the extreme step. “As he was about to fall unconscious, he told one of the teachers that he had consumed acid. We immediately rushed him to the hospital,” said his colleague. Mr. Jagatheeswaran is said to have drunk diluted hydrochloric acid. He has two children, aged 10 and two-and-half.
Mr. Jagatheeswaran is in the ICU.
Commenting on the incident, Mr. Ravichandran said, “With the practical exams approaching, I had asked the teachers to put in writing when they would finish the work and submit the records.”
Keywords: Chennai Corporation school, suicide
Sucide is not an means to escape from sloppy work culture - as a teacher he should be role model. I am sure the officer had good intentions trying to do his job. It is amazing how people put the officer at fault.
Officers should know their limits. Talking bad about the teachers in front of others will always wound his emotions. If the officer finds fault in a teacher's work no doubt he is the authority to issue a memo, ask for explanation or even deliver some harsh statement. But all these should be done by calling the teacher alone and not in front of the students and other teachers.
It is very sad that the teacher took the extreme step to end his life. Teachers should be role models to students. We find youngsters committing suicide for silly reasons. What is wrong if a higher official tries to put discipline in the school? Government schools should improve their quality and the official has only done his duty. He should not be penalized because of the immaturity of an individual.
Ouch!!! How could he do that? What message does this send out to his students? So if the teacher scolds a student for not submitting his work on time (say he couldn't due to a geniune reason), the student has to attempt or commit suicide.
Even if the Officer is at fault (include all conspiracy theories of media), still this is unjustified. Especially as a teacher and a parent, be more careful in what you do, Kids learn more from what they see than what they hear!!!
The Concerned Education Officer of the Chennai Corporation has no jurisdiction to go through the record notebooks of the teachers.This means that he is encroaching powers of the Head Master of the School. The Commissioner of Chennai Corporation should not allow such practices in future, The Head of the School is solely responsible for all academic matters . He can submit a report on such teachers. Followed by it action can be initiated according to Law.
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