STUDENTS who are especially vulnerable and sensitive, said Taylor’s University lecturer Rajalakshmi Ganesan, can experience negative emotions such as betrayal, confusion, shame, guilt and anxiety if they have been traumatised by a teacher.
This, she said, can create a lasting effect on a student.
“An example of these outcomes can be as simple as a child refusing to go to school or developing a dislike for subjects like History or Chemistry due to their learning experiences rather than their true capability in the subjects.
“This could also translate to a downgrade in their academic performance. “The emotional turmoil created by a negative teacher-student relationship can result in students losing focus and motivation to learn.
“Short-term performance problems can cause long-term issues, making students think they’re bad at academics and hurting their self-esteem,” she said, adding that with weakened self-esteem, students may struggle to build any form of relationship, even with themselves, to the point where they may not trust their own abilities.
UTAR lecturer Tay Kok Wai said there are red flags that may indicate a teacher is behaving inappropriately.
“Pay attention if a teacher is spending too much time with a student.
“Private meetings, tutoring sessions that extend beyond normal hours, or frequent one-on-one interactions that are not academically necessary can be precursors to developing an inappropriate relationship,” he said.
He also said encouraging a student to keep certain interactions or conversations secret from others is another warning sign.
“Transparency is crucial in maintaining professional boundaries, and secrecy can facilitate sexual exploitation.
“Any form of physical contact beyond what is professionally appropriate can also be a sign of crossing boundaries,” he said, adding that this includes hugging, touching, or any other form of physical closeness not warranted in a teacher-student relationship.
