HS TEACHER ATTACKED BY ‘UNRULY’ STUDENTS IN ILOCOS NORTE

SOME students reportedly attacked on Friday a high school teacher inside their classroom in Ilocos Norte.

Photos and videos of the assault are now circulating on social media.

The Teacher’s Dignity Coalition (TDC)  on Saturday condemned the incident.

It said it is deeply saddened by the reported  physical attack by students on a high school teacher.

“It’s hard to watch the video, it hurts to see a teacher in uniform falling to the floor while being physically attacked by students in the classroom. We need to examine this incident and find out why it reached to that situation where some students seem to have no respect for their teacher,” said TDC chairman Benjo Basas.

According to Basas, although the details or circumstances regarding the incident are not yet clear, the possible responsibility of the students involved should not be eliminated, regardless of their reason for doing such thing.

Basas said the video clearly shows the intention to hurt the teacher because even though many are screaming to stop the beatings, the accused  students still continue the attack.

Some fellow students who tried to stop their unruly classmates were pushed away.

“Perhaps this is one of the bad effects of too many regulations on teachers, particularly on imposing discipline, especially when it comes to the implementation of the  DepEd’s Child Protection Policy (DepEd CPP),” Basas said.

He said there have been many cases of disrespect and even physical attacks on teachers since the introduction of policies such as DepEd CPP and the Anti-Child Abuse Law (RA 7610).

According to Basas, there was even an instance that a teacher died after being stabbed by his student.

“It seems that we have a problem with the behavior and discipline of our children today because the authority of our teachers to discipline the students in the school has been almost removed since all kinds of disciplinary actions can be complained and charged as child abuse against the teacher,” Basas said.

Because of the incident, the TDC renewed its call on Congress and the DepEd to act immediately to create a policy  that will also protect the rights and welfare of the teachers.

He said the Teacher Protection Policy bill is now pending in Congress.

Basas said lawmakers should understand the importance of school discipline not only for the teachers to perform their duty well but also to help shape the behavior of the students and teach them the right value in life.

The TDC also said it is crucial to address the existing problems of schools such as hot and overcrowded classrooms, lack of teachers, lack of SPED facilities, lack of proper guidance and counseling programs, and lack of legal services for teachers and staff members.

In recent years, he said the TDC has recorded cases wherein   the DepEd CPP and RA 7610 were abused.

“In many cases, teachers are accused and charged with criminal and administrative cases, harassed, threatened, humiliated in the mainstream and social media, and some, like this one, are physically attacked,” Basas explained.

He said they are now coordinating with the DepEd, particularly with the Ilocos Norte Division, which is conducting an investigation into the incident.