Stick to disciplinary procedures

IT was disheartening reading a news report of a teacher barred from entering a school by a head teacher and two disciplinary teachers because the teacher was late.
And what was even more appalling was that a parent came to the defence of the teacher.
According to the parent it was only 7.15am and school only starts at 7.30am and yet the teacher was denied entry.
The head teacher refused to budge and warned the security guards that action would be taken against them if the teacher was allowed into the school.
The picture of the teacher being locked out of the school has gone viral on social media and many have lashed out at the school authorities for "bullying" the teacher.
According to the head teacher, the teacher has a record of coming late to school.
There are standard operating procedures of dealing with teachers who are late but locking them out is not one of them.
If despite verbal and written warnings the teacher comes late, the head teacher can seek the help of the district education officers.
The school improvement specialist coaches in the district education offices can counsel the teacher.
The head teacher can also refer the teacher to the state education office.
Locking the teacher out in the presence of parents and pupils is akin to washing dirty linen in public and it does not augur well for the professional and social well-being of the teacher.
How is the teacher to work in such circumstances in the school?
How will the head teacher be able to work with that teacher?
And the irony is that the school had not started when the teacher was locked out. It was only 7.15am.
And this is the sad scenario of some schools where head teachers rule with an iron fist and dictate unfavourable terms.
It is not surprising to find teachers teaching classes in some schools before 7am though school officially starts at 7.30am.
To be in school before 7am, the children will have to get up an extra hour earlier and that can be taxing for small children.
Some primary schools begin teaching at 7am especially for the Year 6 examination children.
These are the overenthusiastic head teachers who "slave drive" teachers to achieve their own agenda of zero defect in their schools.
These head teachers instil fear in their subordinates and exercise their authority without question.
The teachers are simply pawns who work with no true passion and love for the school.
With Teacher's Day around the corner I hope that these Little Napoleons in schools realise that teachers and children are humans and not machines.
And most important, head teachers need to earn the respect of teachers so that teachers will give their heart and soul to the school.
Samuel Yesuiah
Seremban