JULY 26 — Last week’s news that a teacher in Batu Gajah, Kelantan had allegedly struck a 15-year-old Form 3 student three times to the back of the head for a disciplinary offence, would normally not raise any eyebrows (pun intended).
After all, this is one part of the world which continues to believe the proverbial saying “spare the rod, spoil the child”.
What probably made this incident stand out this time around, was the fact that the one doing the disciplining was the school’s religious teacher or ustazah and the alleged offence, having plucked or threaded eyebrows.
The disciplinary punishment, supposedly inflicted during a spot check conducted by the teacher, reportedly caused an aggravation of a previous injury, resulting in the girl’s hospitalisation and her having to undergo physiotherapy treatment.
Defenders of the teacher’s actions have cited the student’s history of supposedly problematic behaviour at school.
These include wearing a school uniform baju kurung which was form fitting, donning a small tudung, being rude to her teachers, and of course, not forgetting, having the offending shaped and groomed eyebrows.
Apologists claim that the blows were “tak lah kuat sangat” or not that hard.
Maybe the student deserved to be disciplined for her rudeness and for violating school regulations.
I suppose it’s tough being a teacher these days, especially when students have a rebellious streak, argue back and have a mind of their own.
However, let’s be clear. There is no reason or rationale to justify any form of violence which causes harm onto an individual who is a minor and entrusted into your care as an educator. When you do that, it is not discipline. It is abuse. Child abuse.
Just as there are codes of conduct for students, so there must be one for teachers. If there isn’t one yet, the Ministry of Education must develop such a code of conduct for teachers and enforce it to prevent future incidents. This is as much to protect the teacher as it is to keep students safe.
Another aspect of this episode which galls me, is the fact that these sort of incidents are common among those who see fit to impose their interpretation of supposedly religious or moral norms and rules on school kids. The receiving end of such impositions are often the girls.
When I was in secondary school, I remember being baffled at the frequent “stay back” sessions after Monday morning assembly where the older girls would be told to remain for spot checks or inspections conducted by female teachers.
It was much later that I learnt what these sessions often involved. Where do I even begin? Meticulous examinations of fingernails (length, colour, dirt or no dirt under the nails), hair (length, shade, style of cut, colour of hair ribbon) and face (makeup or no, contact lenses, lipstick, and those damned threaded eyebrows).
Hell, they even look at what underwear you are wearing. Bras and camisoles are examined for colour, type, whether they are lacy (verboten) or plain (mandatory). Teachers lift the long skirts of girls wearing the baju kurung uniform to see whether the students are wearing kain dalam or underskirts. In some schools, even panties are checked to make sure that they are not the sexy sort.
These acts are neither make believe or exaggerations. I wish they were. They were practices back when I was in school and from conversations I had with a number of students last year, they continue to be implemented today.
Take a look at school guidelines for uniforms, attire and presentation. I bet you that the rules which govern girls are far more than those for boys and probably grow longer every five years. There is definitely a double standard at play.
I can only think of these unnecessary and excessive measures intended to impose control and uniformity as demeaning, humiliating and shameful for those involved, particularly schoolgirls. Such intrusive and abusive actions by teachers violate students’ right to dignity and privacy. They are also sexist and discriminatory.
Suppressing Individual liberty and freedom of expression, as well as imposing personal views of religious practices and norms, have led us to where we are today: puritanical rules which have very little to do with instilling discipline, and are a form of body shaming and sexual repression.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
