General News
27 October, 2024
Teachers too often abused and attacked
For too many, there is an us against them mentality.
EDITORIAL
Ever notice how we try to put every lesson that needs to be learned on the shoulders of teachers?
"They need to teach the kids this when they're at school" is a common response to any concern raised in our community.
You can find any number of examples, from healthy eating to road safety, from household budgeting to online bullying.
It's lazy thinking; it's clearly also unfair to expect so much of teachers.
Our young people do have much to learn before they become adults.
And our schools do try to cover a seemingly ever-growing list of topics to prepare them for, well, life.
So much so that they are also routinely told - from another perspective - that they should stick to the basics, the classic three Rs. They really can't win, can they?
What seems to be missing - at times - is an understanding that education should be a partnership between parents and their child's school. Sadly, for too many, there is instead an us against them mentality that is surely toxic to the kids.
For all the good it can do, social media can be at the heart of this.
We should all be concerned to hear that there are reportedly many cases of teachers being on the receiving end of personal attacks.
That's what the head of the Tasmanian Principals Association, Mat Grining, told a parliamentary inquiry into bullying and discrimination in schools.
An experienced educator, Mr Grining gave evidence last week that there were examples of school staff being victimised by students through derogatory memes and videos.
Worse, generally speaking, is the behaviour by adults.
Mr Grining spoke of "many cases" where parents had "no hesitation in contacting their child's teacher, their child's principal ... with something that is completely inappropriate; either a personal attack or a completely inappropriate encroachment on their personal time".
There's little doubt that teachers around the country, in ever state, could relate to the concerns raised by the Tasmanian representative.
Clearly, more than a few parents have difficulty with managing conflict and respecting boundaries.
This is a problem that we cannot lay at the feet of teachers.
Rather, the community needs to be clear that our educators deserve our respect and our support, not abuse.
What do you think?