OCTOBER 27 — Free Malaysia Today reported on Sunday (October 26) that about 300 people turned up outside a school in George Town, Penang in support of two teachers charged with caning a Form Three student.
The rally, organised by activist Kuan Chee Heng, better known as Uncle Kentang, saw teachers and members of the public calling for dignity to be restored to the profession.
“Many teachers are demoralised by constant blame and unreasonable demands from some parents. It has drained their passion to teach,” Kuan said.
The protesters gathered outside SMJK Chung Hwa Confusion holding white balloons, banners and placards with messages in support of the teaching profession.
Two messages read, “Do not treat our teachers like criminals” and “Honour those who taught you”.
The two messages make me recall the remarks by Kerala High Court Judge PV Kunhikrishnan which I shared in “To cane or not to cane: No single view”.
Justice Kunhikrishnan granted bail to a teacher who was facing criminal prosecution for caning a Standard 6 student.
The prosecution said that the act was committed due to enmity as the student had spread the news among classmates about the teacher’s involvement in an accident resulting in the death of his son.
The teacher, however, refuted the case against him, asserting that he had only advised the student to study well.
He contended that continuous advice was misinterpreted, leading to false allegations.
At the outset of his judgment, Justice Kunhikrishnan said:
“Teachers are the unsung heroes of our society. They shape the minds, hearts and souls of our future generation. No steps should be taken to diminish the morale of the teachers’ community because they are the backbone of our future generation.”
The learned judge then continued:
“Nowadays, the teachers in the schools are reluctant to take any risk as far as their students’ behaviour, discipline etc are concerned. They believe that, even if they act bonafide, there is a threat of registration of a criminal case against them.
“The behaviour of the young generation in our state is alarming. They are involved in serious criminal cases, and some of them are even addicts of drugs and alcohol.
“This was not the situation in olden days. On those days, the mere sound, shade or the face of a teacher is enough to ensure that there is discipline in the classrooms.
“Nowadays, news reports are coming in which the students are threatening the teachers and they are physically attacking or even gheraoing the teachers. This tendency is to be discouraged.”
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, “gherao” is Indian English which means to prevent (someone) from leaving a place of work until certain demands are met.
Justice Kunhikrishnan added:
“There is a vital role for the teachers’ community in developing our future generation. A teacher’s role is not only to teach but also to inspire, motivate and empower the students.”
The learned judge referred to the case of XXX v State of Kerala (2024) where he had remarked that “teachers are imparting education bearing fear in mind what to do and what not to do.
This is a threat to the smooth functioning of educational institutions, and this situation may lead to dangerous consequences.”
In his parting remarks about teachers, the learned judge said:
“Let the teachers carry a cane in their hand while they are in educational institutions, if they intend to do so.
“It need not be used always, but the mere presence of a cane with teachers will create a psychological effect in the student community by discouraging them from doing any social evils.
“For minor punishments of teachers in schools, without any malice, while imparting education or in connection with the discipline and behaviour of a student, the teachers should be protected from criminal prosecution.”
Do not treat teachers like criminals. Honour them.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
