Demon Teachers

I am sure readers of all ages can remember a few teachers who terrorised their students.

The latest incidents being reported only reflects the more open attitude towards not accepting behaviour that is excessive and with modern technology not much goes unrecorded these days.

I am the product of the school system of yesterday and I spent the years from Primary 1 to Upper Six in just one school, the St. Michael's Inst. in Ipoh.

Most people will say that was one of the best schools in town, the other good schools being Anderson, ACS and the Convents.

But even my school had its share of demon teachers who used to terrorise the students. Some of them have passed on but I won't disclose any names here.

Teacher 1 was a man who had the peculiar habit of grabbing and twisting the boys' testicles. Usually done to 2 boys who committed various offences. That was in primary school and no one wore underwear in those days(50s). Ear pulling was quite commonly practised by many teachers.

Teacher 2 used to throw chalkboard dusters and chalk at students who fell asleep or were not paying attention. In one incident, one sleeping student picked up the duster and flung it back at the teacher. There was an uneasy silence after that but the boy was not punished further.

In lower secondary, this student was bad-mouthing a teacher when suddenly the teacher executed two judo throws on the student and then held him in a stranglehold and got him to apologise. It was on a wooden floor and the sound effect was really something.

It is good that the ministry is coming up with a review of the discipline problem. As for that "dunking" teacher if the families have forgiven her and she has apologised in the interests of the students pending exams, the ministry should also consider the case closed.

If action is taken against her after the exams, it would seem that issues were not decided on proper principles but rather expediency.