FREDDY FERNANDES
freddy@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: It’s tough being a teacher in these challenging times of knowledge proliferation through internet and social media and potent challenges to all forms of authority, including teachers.
September 5 is celebrated as Teachers Day to mark the birth anniversary of the second President of India Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
On the occasion, seven dedicated teachers were conferred with CM-Vashistha Guru Puraskar 2023-24. Of them Mahesh Kasalkar, Jyoti Sinari, Sudhir Naik and Pratima Gaonkar shared their perspectives with O Heraldo how teachers should deal with errant students, especially in these challenging times.
“Teachers have to act as guides to students and show them direction in life. We have to behave in a good manner and impart good values to students. If we do these, many undesirable things which happen in society will stop,” Kasalkar said.
Jyoti Sinari, another recipient of the Teacher State Award said that she is extremely happy on receiving the award.
“Giving corporal punishment to students does not suit teachers. It is simply not proper. Such teachers should be punished, whatever may be the reason. Such young children should not be assaulted. We devote our life to students. If students do well in life, that is the greatest reward,” Sinari said.
Teacher Sudhir Naik said, “Teachers should get down to the students' level and understand the things they like and the way they think. We receive salaries to take care of them, not to beat them. The one who understands his students is a real teacher.”
Pratima Gaonkar said, “Teachers should always look for the welfare of students.”
Police arrest two teachers accused of assaulting 9-yr-old boy
PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that police have arrested the two teachers accused of assaulting a nine-year-old boy and there won't be any compromise in the case.
Speaking to reporters the Chief Minister said, “The accused could not be arrested at night. So they were arrested in the morning. The case will continue. It will not be compromised. Even if they are terminated tomorrow, then I do not care. It was important to proceed according to the procedure if the case had to be strong. Whoever are the teachers, they will not be spared.”
The two teachers were arrested by Colvale Police. They were later produced before Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa, which remanded them to five days in police custody.
The teachers, Sujal Gawade and Kanishka Gadekar, were booked by Colvale Police in the alleged student assault case under sections 118(1), 126(2), 351(2), read with, 3 (5) of BNS 2023 and Section 8 of Goa Children Act 2003 on Monday, September 2 and suspended by school management on Wednesday, September 4, 2024.
According to the police, Sujal Gawade had asked the boy studying in Standard 4 about the reason for tearing pages of his books. When the boy informed her that the pages which were torn were scribbled, Sujal Gawade allegedly assaulted the boy with a steel ruler. She also dragged his face onto the writing board, causing bleeding and swelling injuries.