The incident in Telangana of a teacher punishing a class V student for not wearing the school uniform by making her stand near the boys’ toilet at the school is shocking (September 12). It is unfortunate that the teacher did not have a humane touch as the girl is said to have given the reason of the uniform not being dry after having been washed. There is still widespread belief among teachers that hitting or insulting a child is the best way to ensure obedience and discipline. Harsh steps can have a deleterious effect on the mental health of children. Fear causes children to become withdrawn and submit themselves to such forms of punishment. More often than not, when a teacher uses violence on children, it is an outburst of his/her personal frustration.
R. Sivakumar,
Chennai
In an era where educational institutions are most often being run on profit motives, it is hardly surprising to witness holistic education taking a back seat and affecting the prospects of students evolving into the most responsible and conscientious citizens of the country. The gruesome murder of student in a school in Gurugram is not only shocking but also a grim pointer to the lack of regulatory oversight to ensure the safety and security of our children in schools. Schools are more than just temples of learning and their managements cannot evade their responsibility when it comes to providing a safe and happy learning environment.
M. Jeyaram,
Sholavandan, Tamil Nadu
Thousands of children fall prey to crime, whether it is kidnappings, violent attacks or sexual abuse. According to a study, the reasons for the high incidence of child abuse could be poor parenting skills, vulnerability of the child in conditions outside the family environment such as on the street, at work and in institutions, belief in punishment shaping a child and dysfunctional families. Unfortunately in India, there is no separate or exclusive legislation to deal with the problem of extreme forms of child abuse. Perhaps a lack of awareness and open communication within the family, fear of being stigmatised and not being trusted are what dissuade young victims from speaking up. If the system is reformed, we can ensure that such crimes are minimised.
Vinod C. Dixit,
Ahmedabad
