Solutions to ‘teacher-shaming’ proposed

TDC chairman Benjo Basas complained that teachers are subjected to many regulations that are used or misused against them. #TDC #teachershaming

The staff of TDC-NCR with its national chairman Benjo Basas (center, back row).

A teachers’ group is proposing several measures to end “teacher-shaming” as they welcomed the Department of Education (DepEd) investigation on the incident involving a Manila public school teacher being shamed on live TV.

“This and other incidents should be taken seriously by the DepEd. We call on our Secretary Leonor Briones to make necessary steps to protect and defend our teachers as well,” Benjo Basas, national chairperson of Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said.

The said incident which has become viral for several days now, is the cause of a spontaneous and unanimous fury of public school teachers with netizens on their side.

In an episode of the TV 5 program Raffy Tulfo in Action entitled “Mommy, Ipina-Tulfo ang Pasaway na Teacher ng Kanyang Anak!” aired last Monday, 18 November, the host, Raffy Tulfo, acted on a complaint of a grandmother against the teacher of her grandchild for allegedly shaming and hurting the pupil.

The child’s parents also appeared on the show where they repeatedly asked for justice thru the revocation of the teacher’s license to teach. The host, agreed with the parents and even said that the child may suffer trauma.

Tulfo then called the teacher and made a live phone patch conversation. At the end of the interview, the host gave the teacher the options of either she voluntarily gives up her job and license to teach or face the consequence of prison term because of child abuse. The poor teacher, readily agreed to resign.

Tulfo on Friday aplogized and said he will no longer pursue the case and will just facilitate the settlement of both parties.

According to TDC’s sources from the teacher’s school in Manila, the teacher and the child’s mother have already settled their dispute after a meeting with some DepEd-Manila officials also on Friday, without the presence of media people.

It may be the end of the story for the mother and the teacher. But the TDC said that the incident is not isolated.

“In many circumstances, teachers accused of violation of children’s rights have been subjected to harassment, intimidation, extortion, physical threat and some kind of media sensationalization. Teachers are often left in a disadvantaged position whenever a case is filed against them. Legal assistance, especially those of private lawyers is not readily available for teachers. In some cases, teachers are forced to enter into unfair settlement or worse, resign or face the court battle,” Basas explained.

“In light of this issue, we would like to reiterate that teachers, in general would never want to cause any harm- physically, emotionally or mentally to the children. The main duty of our teachers is to teach and the teaching environment should be conducive. Thus, some sort of discipline is necessary,” Basas added.

The group, however, said that teachers are subjected to many regulations that are used or misused against them.

“We have the RA 7610, the DepEd Child Protection Policy and other laws which we recognize and respect. Unfortunately, these laws are used to harass, threaten and intimidate the helpless teachers and in some cases, extort money from them,” Basas said.

Basas said his group denounced old ways of disciplining children, particularly physical, verbal and psychological punishment especially in teaching-learning situation and regard these methods of imposing discipline as outdated and ineffective.

“As teachers, we want to ensure the welfare of schoolchildren, but it should not be at our expense. We have to take into consideration all the factors in school situation,” Basas said.

The group then listed some of its recommendations for the consideration of the DepEd and other policy-making bodies:

• Reduction of class size to a maximum of 30 students per classroom;

• Provision of sick and vacation leave benefits for teachers;

• Creation of more special education (SPED) centers and hiring of SPED teachers based on the needs;

• Professionalization of school guidance and counseling system and hiring of registered guidance counselors with higher salary grade based on their qualification;

• Institutionalization of alternative school discipline policies agreed by parents, teachers and learners;

• Amendment of certain penal provisions of RA 7610 especially in the school setting;

• Protection of teachers from harassment, intimidation, physical threat, extortion, media sensationalization and assigning of a defense lawyer for public school teachers facing criminal charges;

• Massive training on Positive Discipline Approach;

• Review of the DepEd Child Protection Policy and crafting of another policy to protect the teachers as well.

TDC asked policy-makers to ensure that no teacher will be put in a disadvantaged situation should they make any policy for the welfare of children.

“We must, at all times be sure that the rights and welfare of teachers be protected in the same weight as we protect the children,” Basas said.