Ex-teachers’ union chief: Race taunts normal in schools
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Racial slurs and comments in schools can be overcome with fair, firm and transparent administration, according to an eminent educationist.
P. Ramanathan, a former teacher and former president of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), the country’s largest teachers’ organisation, said racist remarks were nothing new as they were common among teachers and pupils and often practised by all ethnic groups.
“This was usually a form of letting off steam due to unfairness in the way the school is administered.
“The use of double standards which favour certain groups also result in such remarks and comments. Some teachers and pupils are taken to task by the headmaster for certain activities while others who do similar mistakes are not punished.
“Things like this, which lead to frustration, result in such remarks,” he told Bernama here today.
“However, the difference is that some say it loudly while many just whisper among their own racial groups,” he said.
Ramanathan said that during his 35 years of teaching and active involvement in the NUTP, there were many such cases which were dealt with within the ambit of the school regulations.
“We never went to the media, and always settled them amicably among ourselves without much fuss,” he added.
Ramanathan was commenting on the case of a school principal in Kulaijaya, Johor, who had allegedly used racist remarks on Aug 12.
He felt that transferring such teachers would not solve the problem because these teachers had their own grassroots support among the staff and students.
He said that from experience, he found that sometimes such transfers would cause more problems than they would solve.
He urged the ministry to carefully monitor school administrators to ensure professional handling of all the concerns of students, parents and teachers.
Parent-teacher associations should also assist in this important task, he said. — Bernama
P. Ramanathan, a former teacher and former president of the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), the country’s largest teachers’ organisation, said racist remarks were nothing new as they were common among teachers and pupils and often practised by all ethnic groups.
“This was usually a form of letting off steam due to unfairness in the way the school is administered.
“The use of double standards which favour certain groups also result in such remarks and comments. Some teachers and pupils are taken to task by the headmaster for certain activities while others who do similar mistakes are not punished.
“Things like this, which lead to frustration, result in such remarks,” he told Bernama here today.
“However, the difference is that some say it loudly while many just whisper among their own racial groups,” he said.
Ramanathan said that during his 35 years of teaching and active involvement in the NUTP, there were many such cases which were dealt with within the ambit of the school regulations.
“We never went to the media, and always settled them amicably among ourselves without much fuss,” he added.
Ramanathan was commenting on the case of a school principal in Kulaijaya, Johor, who had allegedly used racist remarks on Aug 12.
He felt that transferring such teachers would not solve the problem because these teachers had their own grassroots support among the staff and students.
He said that from experience, he found that sometimes such transfers would cause more problems than they would solve.
He urged the ministry to carefully monitor school administrators to ensure professional handling of all the concerns of students, parents and teachers.
Parent-teacher associations should also assist in this important task, he said. — Bernama
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