As a child, and also a pupil and student, a teacher’s duty didn’t just end at the classroom or in the school premises. It was in all the places that the teachers and I connected. If the teacher attended my church, then they were not my church members, they were simply my teachers. The same could also be said when I bumped into them in the neighborhood.
I found it hard to see them as anything other than being a teacher to me, and I always coordinated myself as such. Didn’t want to do or say anything that could get me into trouble in the future. But most of the time, when I do have such encounters, whatever we talk about is mostly school-based. And they’re not conversations that go on for too long.
During my time, being away from school didn’t protect me from the wrath of the school authorities. If you refused to go home straight and went to play ball in a field, if you’re caught, you’ll be punished. It even gets worse if you’re doing these things in the school uniform. I remember multiple cases of students being punished because they went to the hotel or bar, or to a swimming pool after school.
Now, these were after-school hours, but on school days. The school shouldn’t have the authority to punish them for this, but many of them do it anyway. I don’t know how things are done now, but I believe that for many, things are very much different, and schools follow a different policy now. Due to rights and whatnot, the enlightenment has taken over, and students have more freedom.
So, what are my thoughts on this? Should the role of a teacher be limited to the classroom? I feel that teachers, especially in the formative years of kids, shouldn’t just be relegated to just teaching A for Apple, and C for Cat. There is more to the role, and as a result, every teacher should be willing to take the extra step to do what is best for the child.
We’ve seen reports of teachers who take action when they suspect that one of their students are victims of abuse at home. Teachers can come upon a parent on their way home, and right there on the street, have an impromptu parent-teacher meeting with them. They are well within their rights to demand that it be held within the school premises, but there are so many who are so selfless that they don’t mind taking the extra step just for the benefit of the child.
But sadly, one of our unpleasant realities in the world of today is the fact that many teachers are scared of actually doing their job as passionately as they would. A disciplinary action against a student can open up a lawsuit. Sometimes, even giving a child an F can be a threat to their jobs. Many schools are now more interested in making money off the students and teachers, so they will basically allow anything to go if it means the kids and their parents are happy. Even if it’s at their detriment.
It’s crazy, but that is exactly what the world is turning into.
