Teachers also need protection

I REFER to the recent news about two teachers in George Town who were charged in court with hitting a student with a rotan two years ago. On social media, the reaction was heated; some defended the teachers while others demanded stronger protection for children.

This made me think about what is happening in the education system. We are seeing rising cases of students with attitude problems and lack of respect for teachers.

Parents today are very different from those 20 years ago. These days, both parents are likely working while their children would be spending their afternoons in childcare or attending tuition classes. Most of these children would be on social media or gaming during their free time.

Without proper monitoring, children are easily exposed to unhealthy content or online cultures, which their developing brains cannot yet process. Neurological studies show the brain does not fully mature until the mid-20s, meaning that children and teens cannot always judge what is right or wrong on their own.

In the past, parents and teachers worked hand in hand to raise children, often sharing a common understanding that discipline was for the benefit of the child. Today, many parents see education as a service they are paying for. With that comes entitlement – the idea that I pay, therefore my child must be protected from distress.

This attitude is dangerous because it drives passionate teachers out of the profession. If parents continue to treat teachers as service providers instead of partners in education, we risk losing the very people we rely on to mould our children into responsible adults.

Good teachers, the ones who care deeply, often impose discipline, organise detention classes or go the extra mile. But these are the very actions that may now invite complaints from students or parents.

If teachers are constantly threatened with legal action or police reports, how can they continue to teach with passion? Children are protected by child rights and parents are shielded by school regulations, but who protects the teachers?

If we create an environment where teachers are punished for caring, we should not be surprised when the good ones leave. Those who stay may be the ones who keep their head down, do only what is required and avoid conflict at all costs. But can such teachers inspire, discipline and shape the next generation?

At the centre of all this are the students. Young children learn mainly from their environment, parents, teachers, peers and the media. If we fail to provide the right moral values, they will absorb whatever they see around them.

Parents carry the heaviest responsibility here, but schools must reinforce values, too.

When students progress to secondary school and university, they should have a reasonable degree of independence and resilience. Yet, many arrive at this stage still overly dependent, vulnerable and lacking coping skills due to overprotective parenting and complaint-driven school systems.

The issue is not whether students should complain. They have every right to speak up against injustice. The issue is whether we are also equipping them with conflict resolution skills. If every unpleasant experience leads to a formal complaint, we are not raising problem-solvers. We are raising individuals unprepared for life’s challenges.

As a society, we need to restore balance. Protect children from real harm, but also teach them resilience, responsibility and respect. Protect parents’ voices, but also remind them of their shared role in education. Protect teachers, too, so that they can continue to give their best.

If we continue to diminish our educators, we are not only failing them; we are also failing our children and future society.

DR HUE CHI YIN

Psychology lecturer

Taylor’s University