Bullying students has been always the concern of many, but do they think of the protection of the dear teachers? Is there any protection policy intended for teachers? The answer is none. Many are looking after the welfare of the students whenever they are at school. Teachers are making sure of that matter by securing them all the time. They take care of them for more than eight hours every day. When bullying occurs, they are the ones who handle the situation and will find way to protect the student. They assure that every student enjoys studying and playing at school. Furthermore teachers sometimes give food to the leaners that have no money to buy snacks. They are even visiting the learners at home to check their condition and inform parents on the performance of their son/daughter at school.
But the sad story is that teachers are on the center of the Senate Bill 2793 pushing the expansion of Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 to include teachers who would find guilty of bullying students. It was Senator Edgardo Angara who proposed the enactment of the present law. “Teachers and other school employees, including the principal, and security, maintenance and administrative personnel, may commit acts of bullying by using humiliating words and giving degrading treatment such as unwarranted corporal punishment against students,” Angara noted on his proposed amendment to the anti-bullying law of 2013. He added that while the government recognizes the dedication and sacrifices of teachers, it is necessary for schools to provide the youth maximum opportunity to learn in a safe and peaceful environment.
The law defines bullying as any severe or repeated harmful act, whether written, verbal, an electronic expression, or a physical act, that has the effect of actually placing the student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or causing damage to property, creating a hostile environment at school.
With the implementation of Republic Act No. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 and the proposed enactment of the said law, the teachers are now on the helm of criticisms. Teachers understand that our countrymen are protecting the learners, but they should also consider the position of the educators who are doing everything to mold the minds of the youth to help our country. Teachers are also human beings that sometimes commit mistakes, but they should not be treated as if they are suspect of bullying. Do not accuse them; they are doing their vocation wholeheartedly. We know sometimes teachers scold learners for their wrongdoings, but it is their duty to call the attention of the concern student and to make appropriate actions. They are not humiliating them; they are gradually correcting the unbecoming acts of the leaners. Teachers are not degrading the students; they are teaching them how to show respect.
Many are judging teacher whose name appears in a television if he/she hurt a student, but they did not know the whole story. Of course the student and his/her parents will tell everything against the teacher, but they should root for the action done by the learner and analyze it why the act of the teacher occurs. People and media are after on the situation of the leaner, but how about the humiliation of the teacher after being prompted in the national television? They are after on the effect on student’s behavior. They think student will not come to school anymore, are they really sure that this student is always attending his classes? They said it is one traumatic experience, do they have evidence of traumatizing the learner? Students are victims of bullying. In most cases student is bullied by his classmates and not his teacher.
Teachers are not bully. They are preventing bullies. They are protecting the bully victims. Do not
accuse them of bullying, because teachers are also bully victims.
By: Limuel L. Caña | T-I | Mariveles National HIghschool
