By Irfan Iqbal Gheta
We have long treated teachers as nothing short of gods. Every Teacher’s Day, we honour them for moulding us into who we are. No one disputes the role a teacher plays in shaping society.
But the job of a teacher today is far more complex than it once was. Technology, information overload, and increasing student assertiveness have altered classroom dynamics. Authenticity of online information is rarely questioned, and often, teachers find themselves defending their teaching methods or — worse — their competence.
This constant scrutiny places teachers under tremendous stress. And while stress is no excuse, it certainly is a factor. In these demanding circumstances, it becomes essential for teachers to uphold the dignity and patience the profession demands.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case anymore.
Take, for example, the recent shocking case from a private school in Old Goa. A teacher, reportedly infuriated by students playing cricket in the classroom, rounded up eleven of them and beat them so severely that some sustained visible injuries. Yes — eleven students.
Let’s pause for a moment.
Playing cricket in a classroom is definitely inappropriate. It’s disruptive, and the students deserve disciplinary action. But should that translate into lathi blows and humiliation?
Absolutely not.
Schools are meant to be safe learning environments. And teachers, no matter how provoked, must maintain self-control — because violence has no place in an educational institution. Period.
What makes this worse is the school’s initial response. Rather than addressing the issue transparently, the management tried to brush it under the carpet — coercing an apology out of the teacher and referring to the entire episode as a “mistake.” All of this until the media exposed the incident, triggering public outrage and a police investigation.
This is not an isolated case. We’ve seen similar stories across the country. As student behaviour grows more unruly and classrooms more stressful, some teachers — unable to cope — react emotionally, even violently. But this reflects a deeper issue: a lack of institutional support and proper mental health training.
In every classroom of 40 or 50 students, there are bound to be mischief-makers. It’s part of the job. Experienced and emotionally intelligent teachers handle such students with tact — not terror. They redirect mischief into constructive activity, involve such students creatively, or counsel them discreetly.
But the moment anger replaces authority, education becomes punishment, and the line is crossed.
That’s why it’s high time school managements across Goa and beyond consider mandatory anger management workshops for their teaching staff. Not just to avoid bad press, but to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of their students — and their teachers.
Yes, teachers are human too. They deserve empathy, training, and emotional support. But with that must come accountability. Because if we continue to ignore these red flags, we risk eroding the very sanctity of the classroom.
And our students — the very future we entrust to teachers — deserve much better.
