The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday August 8, 2007
BANTING: Two Form One students allegedly set fire to a wooden rack at the SMK Methodist Telok Datok in what is believed to be a case of revenge.
They are believed to have retaliated against the school’s afternoon session supervisor who had punished them earlier.
Teachers who had gathered for an assembly noticed thick smoke billowing from the room on the first floor of the school’s main block.
They rushed there and doused the flames.
A report was lodged and police picked up two boys, aged 12 and 13, for questioning but released them on bail pending investigations.
It is learnt that the two had approached a fellow student and asked him if he would like to join them in setting the room on fire but the latter laughed it off thinking that they were only joking.
The two students were spotted entering the school compound with a bottle believed to be filled with petrol.
Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Zulkifli Mohamed, who confirmed the arrest, said police had classified the case under Section 435 of the Penal Code for mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage.
Showing posts with label discipline. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discipline. Show all posts
Thursday, 9 August 2007
2007 08: School says sorry for caning that left bruises
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday August 6, 2007
SUNGAI Petani's SMK Sin Min issued a statement to apologise to parents after two disciplinary teachers caned 30 students for flouting rules and bruised some students' buttocks, China Press reported.
The bruising led to upset parents demanding an explanation from the school.
The case, which was reported in Chinese newspapers, received public attention and many versions of the incident were circulated among the Chinese community, causing hurt to teachers and students, the paper quoted the statement.
School authorities, after chairing a meeting with the school's board of directors and the parent-teacher association on Friday, said it regretted the incident and apologised to the parents.
It also said caning students who had flouted disciplinary rules was one of the approaches used by the school for many years to discipline students.
SMK Sin Min principal Lok Kin Hong said that to avoid a recurrence of such an incident, students who are to be caned more than once would not receive the canings on the same day.
On Wednesday, 30 Form One students were caned for not submitting their homework, talking in the class and attending classes without textbooks.
Three of them suffered bruises and their parents confronted the school over the incident.
SUNGAI Petani's SMK Sin Min issued a statement to apologise to parents after two disciplinary teachers caned 30 students for flouting rules and bruised some students' buttocks, China Press reported.
The bruising led to upset parents demanding an explanation from the school.
The case, which was reported in Chinese newspapers, received public attention and many versions of the incident were circulated among the Chinese community, causing hurt to teachers and students, the paper quoted the statement.
School authorities, after chairing a meeting with the school's board of directors and the parent-teacher association on Friday, said it regretted the incident and apologised to the parents.
It also said caning students who had flouted disciplinary rules was one of the approaches used by the school for many years to discipline students.
SMK Sin Min principal Lok Kin Hong said that to avoid a recurrence of such an incident, students who are to be caned more than once would not receive the canings on the same day.
On Wednesday, 30 Form One students were caned for not submitting their homework, talking in the class and attending classes without textbooks.
Three of them suffered bruises and their parents confronted the school over the incident.
Monday, 6 August 2007
2007 08: 12yr-old among 6 youths arrested for gang-rape
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
JOHOR BARU: A 12-year-old school dropout was among six teenagers detained for allegedly abducting and gang-raping a factory worker here.
He and the five other suspects, aged 16 to 19, were picked up in a series of raids soon after the incident occurred at about 11.40pm on Friday.
The 30-year-old victim and a 24-year-old female friend were riding home on a scooter in Taman Nusa Damai, Pasir Gudang Friday night, when a lorry is believed to have overtaken them before forcing their off the road.
The suspects grabbed the victim when she fell off the scooter, bundled her into their lorry and drove off, leaving her friend behind.
The victim was later brought to a secluded area in Pasir Gudang before being gang raped.
The victim’s friend managed to alert the Sri Alam police.
A police task force was immediately set up headed by Sri Alam CID Chief Deputy Supt Mohd Nor Rasid and officers from the state police headquarters.
Combing the surrounding housing estates, they managed to locate the lorry in Taman Nusa Damai and rescued the woman eight hours after her abduction.
However upon seeing the police car, the suspects managed to flee.
Police rushed the victim to the hospital and started their hunt for the suspects, who were picked up in a series of raids around Kota Masai.
State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the suspects would be remanded on Sunday.
He said they were being investigated under Sections 376 and 365 of the Penal Code for rape and abduction.
They have been sent to the hospital to have their urine and blood tested for drugs and alcohol.
JOHOR BARU: A 12-year-old school dropout was among six teenagers detained for allegedly abducting and gang-raping a factory worker here.
He and the five other suspects, aged 16 to 19, were picked up in a series of raids soon after the incident occurred at about 11.40pm on Friday.
The 30-year-old victim and a 24-year-old female friend were riding home on a scooter in Taman Nusa Damai, Pasir Gudang Friday night, when a lorry is believed to have overtaken them before forcing their off the road.
The suspects grabbed the victim when she fell off the scooter, bundled her into their lorry and drove off, leaving her friend behind.
The victim was later brought to a secluded area in Pasir Gudang before being gang raped.
The victim’s friend managed to alert the Sri Alam police.
A police task force was immediately set up headed by Sri Alam CID Chief Deputy Supt Mohd Nor Rasid and officers from the state police headquarters.
Combing the surrounding housing estates, they managed to locate the lorry in Taman Nusa Damai and rescued the woman eight hours after her abduction.
However upon seeing the police car, the suspects managed to flee.
Police rushed the victim to the hospital and started their hunt for the suspects, who were picked up in a series of raids around Kota Masai.
State acting police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said the suspects would be remanded on Sunday.
He said they were being investigated under Sections 376 and 365 of the Penal Code for rape and abduction.
They have been sent to the hospital to have their urine and blood tested for drugs and alcohol.
2007 08: Sex romps when parents are away
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday August 3, 2007
FIVE schoolgirls and several boys held no-holds-barred sex romps when their parents were not at home, Harian Metro reported.
The girls, aged 13 to 17, allegedly gave their bodies willingly to the boys, who grouped under the names “Geng Apache,” “Pangkah Shell” and “Budak Shell,” the tabloid said.
The boys favoured these girls from three schools in Putrajaya over others because they are said to be promiscuous and need not be “forced” into having sex.
Sources told the paper that the girls were so daring that they carried out their exploits at either their or the boys' homes after school and when the parents were not at home.
However, their illicit activities were exposed after 25 schoolboys were caught smoking and sniffing glue in two houses at Precincts 9 and 11, Putrajaya.
Several of the boys confessed that they had had sex with the girls over the past few months without any of their families knowing about it.
Sources said no action had so far been taken against either the boys or the girls, because no police report has been made.
FIVE schoolgirls and several boys held no-holds-barred sex romps when their parents were not at home, Harian Metro reported.
The girls, aged 13 to 17, allegedly gave their bodies willingly to the boys, who grouped under the names “Geng Apache,” “Pangkah Shell” and “Budak Shell,” the tabloid said.
The boys favoured these girls from three schools in Putrajaya over others because they are said to be promiscuous and need not be “forced” into having sex.
Sources told the paper that the girls were so daring that they carried out their exploits at either their or the boys' homes after school and when the parents were not at home.
However, their illicit activities were exposed after 25 schoolboys were caught smoking and sniffing glue in two houses at Precincts 9 and 11, Putrajaya.
Several of the boys confessed that they had had sex with the girls over the past few months without any of their families knowing about it.
Sources said no action had so far been taken against either the boys or the girls, because no police report has been made.
Friday, 3 August 2007
2007 08: Schoolgirl slapping clip shown on YouTube
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
CHINA Press reported a YouTube clip showing a bully slapping a schoolgirl for reporting about truancy.
The incident took place in a vacant classroom in Ipoh.
The bully was heard asking the girl if the slap was hard enough.
The bully warned the girl that those who had skipped classes were her “people” and not to report the matter to the school.
The girl, who was silent, was seen weeping in the empty classroom which was guarded by two other girls.
Youtube stated that more than 1,800 people had viewed the footage since July 29, with many criticising the bully.
CHINA Press reported a YouTube clip showing a bully slapping a schoolgirl for reporting about truancy.
The incident took place in a vacant classroom in Ipoh.
The bully was heard asking the girl if the slap was hard enough.
The bully warned the girl that those who had skipped classes were her “people” and not to report the matter to the school.
The girl, who was silent, was seen weeping in the empty classroom which was guarded by two other girls.
Youtube stated that more than 1,800 people had viewed the footage since July 29, with many criticising the bully.
2007 08: Beaten up, stripped and photographed
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
NINE secondary schoolgirls beat up their schoolmate mafia-style and took nude photographs of her after cornering her as she was on her way to a friend’s house, Harian Metro reported.
The daily reported on its front page that one of the girls and her friends approached the 16-year-old victim, demanding to know if she had called her gemuk (fat) behind her back, in Muadzam Shah, Rompin.
The victim repeatedly denied the accusation but the nine girls, not satisfied with her reply, beat her up and slapped her before stripping her naked, the daily reported.
The assailants then used a mobile phone to take pictures of the nude victim as she lay crying on the roadside.
After her attackers left, the victim returned home and related the incident to her family, who then took her to lodge a police report.
The victim received treatment at the Muadzam Shah Hospital for bruises. Police have detained the nine girls.
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Nine apologise to schoolmate
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
MUADZAM SHAH (Pahang): Nine female students from SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak here, who were involved in assaulting and taking nude photographs of their schoolmate last Friday have apologised to the 16-year-old victim.
The nine Form Four students cried as they asked for their friend’s forgiveness, accompanied by their mothers at a special gathering at the school yesterday.
Pahang education director Abdul Aziz Abdul Latiff said the case had ended harmoniously after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar sent his special officer Shashim Shah Harun to help resolve the matter. – Bernama
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Bullying among girls getting more rampant
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
I REFER to the report ‘Nine apologise to classmate” (The Star, Aug 4) regarding the case of nine girls of SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak, who bullied their classmate.
These girls at least had the courage to admit their wrongdoing, but what they did was a disgrace not just to their alma mater but also to their fellow classmates and their families.
This is a classic case of girls behaving badly or should I say “Mean Girls” in real life.
Many people assume that boys only bully but then again this is no longer true. Female students are as capable as their male counterparts in bullying their peers, and the damage they leave is very serious and sometimes for life.
Bullying among female students not only come in the form of physical abuse but also usually come in more subtle forms such as emotional and psychological abuse through telling lies, spreading rumours, playing mind games, hurling insults, social exclusion, and even making degrading remarks about the victim either face-to-face or behind her back to destroy the victim’s self esteem.
Bullying among girls is becoming rampant in many societies and it is a fact that must be taken into consideration.
Girls who think that bullying make them superior to their peers are the ones with the problem, not the victims.
Studies have shown that female bullies resort to bullying not only due to insecurity problems but also due to problems at home. Research shows female bullies are likely to end up continuing to bully into adulthood whether at home, within their social circle or at the workplace unless their bad behaviour is curbed as early as possible.
If we want to reduce the growing incidences of bullying among female students, families, school staff and communities need to work together in combating the problem.
Moreover, these bullies need to undergo counselling and therapy, just like their victim, so that they will not repeat their bad behaviour in the future.
NINE secondary schoolgirls beat up their schoolmate mafia-style and took nude photographs of her after cornering her as she was on her way to a friend’s house, Harian Metro reported.
The daily reported on its front page that one of the girls and her friends approached the 16-year-old victim, demanding to know if she had called her gemuk (fat) behind her back, in Muadzam Shah, Rompin.
The victim repeatedly denied the accusation but the nine girls, not satisfied with her reply, beat her up and slapped her before stripping her naked, the daily reported.
The assailants then used a mobile phone to take pictures of the nude victim as she lay crying on the roadside.
After her attackers left, the victim returned home and related the incident to her family, who then took her to lodge a police report.
The victim received treatment at the Muadzam Shah Hospital for bruises. Police have detained the nine girls.
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Nine apologise to schoolmate
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday August 4, 2007
MUADZAM SHAH (Pahang): Nine female students from SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak here, who were involved in assaulting and taking nude photographs of their schoolmate last Friday have apologised to the 16-year-old victim.
The nine Form Four students cried as they asked for their friend’s forgiveness, accompanied by their mothers at a special gathering at the school yesterday.
Pahang education director Abdul Aziz Abdul Latiff said the case had ended harmoniously after Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar sent his special officer Shashim Shah Harun to help resolve the matter. – Bernama
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Bullying among girls getting more rampant
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday August 7, 2007
I REFER to the report ‘Nine apologise to classmate” (The Star, Aug 4) regarding the case of nine girls of SM Keratong, Bandar Tun Razak, who bullied their classmate.
These girls at least had the courage to admit their wrongdoing, but what they did was a disgrace not just to their alma mater but also to their fellow classmates and their families.
This is a classic case of girls behaving badly or should I say “Mean Girls” in real life.
Many people assume that boys only bully but then again this is no longer true. Female students are as capable as their male counterparts in bullying their peers, and the damage they leave is very serious and sometimes for life.
Bullying among female students not only come in the form of physical abuse but also usually come in more subtle forms such as emotional and psychological abuse through telling lies, spreading rumours, playing mind games, hurling insults, social exclusion, and even making degrading remarks about the victim either face-to-face or behind her back to destroy the victim’s self esteem.
Bullying among girls is becoming rampant in many societies and it is a fact that must be taken into consideration.
Girls who think that bullying make them superior to their peers are the ones with the problem, not the victims.
Studies have shown that female bullies resort to bullying not only due to insecurity problems but also due to problems at home. Research shows female bullies are likely to end up continuing to bully into adulthood whether at home, within their social circle or at the workplace unless their bad behaviour is curbed as early as possible.
If we want to reduce the growing incidences of bullying among female students, families, school staff and communities need to work together in combating the problem.
Moreover, these bullies need to undergo counselling and therapy, just like their victim, so that they will not repeat their bad behaviour in the future.
2007 08: Parent: Teacher slapped my son
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
KLANG: In another case of school rage, a motor workshop owner alleged that a Tamil schoolteacher slapped his son.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, claimed that the teacher was angry that the Year Four pupil had been slow in picking up litter which she had ordered him to clear.
“She scolded my son for the delay and slapped him,” he said, adding that the boy, S. Kirbakaran, stumbled and the left side of his face hit the corner of a desk.
Shanmugamoorthy said he lodged a police report after fetching his son from the school, following Tuesday's incident at the SJK (T) Batu Empat in Kampung Jawa here.
He then took the boy, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical check-up at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
KLANG: In another case of school rage, a motor workshop owner alleged that a Tamil schoolteacher slapped his son.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, claimed that the teacher was angry that the Year Four pupil had been slow in picking up litter which she had ordered him to clear.
“She scolded my son for the delay and slapped him,” he said, adding that the boy, S. Kirbakaran, stumbled and the left side of his face hit the corner of a desk.
Shanmugamoorthy said he lodged a police report after fetching his son from the school, following Tuesday's incident at the SJK (T) Batu Empat in Kampung Jawa here.
He then took the boy, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical check-up at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.
2007 08: Student may be suspended for strangling his teacher
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student may face suspension for strangling his teacher.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was strangled by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school's toilet.
The victim was teaching in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the school toilet.
She went there and told nine male students to come out.
However, she was met by jeers and taunts by the suspect when they did came out.
The teacher then decided to reprimand the student and three others by telling them to do squats 10 times but the same student ignored her orders and went back inside the toilet.
She grabbed his wrists but he brushed her hands away and shoved the teacher against a wall.
He then strangled her before other students came to break up the scuffle.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department would investigate the matter to determine the right course of actions to be taken.
"We will investigate and see whether there is a need to suspend the student," said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
Mokhy said the department would also arrange a meeting between the teacher and the student's parents before deciding on further actions.
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Boy who attacked teacher expelled, but he can appeal
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student who tried to strangle his teacher for reprimanding him has been expelled.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department had investigated the matter and decided to expel him.
“But he can appeal against the decision,” said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was attacked by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school’s toilet.
She was in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the toilet.
She went over and told the nine boys to come out. The boys came out. Some jeered and taunted her.
The teacher decided to reprimand them by telling them to do 10 squats. However, the 17-year-old student ignored her and turned to return to the toilet.
The teacher grabbed his wrist to stop him but the boy shook off her hands, shoved her against a wall and started choking her before other students rushed to stop him.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
Mokhy said the department met the teacher and the student’s parents before reaching the decision.
“Students do such things probably because they feel that the teachers should not discipline them.
“This could be due to recent reports where teachers were reprimanded for punishing their students,” said Mokhy.
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Schoolboy makes amends for action
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: The 17-year-old boy who tried to strangle his female teacher has made amends for his action.
In the presence of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who was at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi to investigate the matter yesterday, the boy shook the teacher's hand and kissed it.
“We consider the case closed. The boy can appeal against the expulsion or asks to be transferred to another school,” Noh said.
The teacher said she would apply to be transferred to another school.
“I want to put the incident behind me,” said the teacher who taught English, Science and Mathematics.
Noh reiterated that all schools must follow the proper procedure in dealing with discipline issues, to be fair to all parties involved.
He said that while punishment was important to deal with discipline problems, adhering to the right process was even more important.
“I reminded all district offices last week that in such cases, the student, teacher, parents, parent-teacher associations and the police must be summoned to a hearing,” he said.
In this case, both parties acted emotionally, he said, adding that all teachers should not make spontaneous decisions.
“The student was wrong in this matter but the school was too focused on punishment and disregarded the right procedures.
“The student and his eight friends will undergo a motivation course at the curriculum centre in Johor Baru while the teacher will seek counselling,” said Noh.
Noh also said that a teacher in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Kedah, who allegedly molested a student, would be suspended for two months.
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student may face suspension for strangling his teacher.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was strangled by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school's toilet.
The victim was teaching in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the school toilet.
She went there and told nine male students to come out.
However, she was met by jeers and taunts by the suspect when they did came out.
The teacher then decided to reprimand the student and three others by telling them to do squats 10 times but the same student ignored her orders and went back inside the toilet.
She grabbed his wrists but he brushed her hands away and shoved the teacher against a wall.
He then strangled her before other students came to break up the scuffle.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department would investigate the matter to determine the right course of actions to be taken.
"We will investigate and see whether there is a need to suspend the student," said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
Mokhy said the department would also arrange a meeting between the teacher and the student's parents before deciding on further actions.
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Boy who attacked teacher expelled, but he can appeal
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 29, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: A secondary school student who tried to strangle his teacher for reprimanding him has been expelled.
State education director Mokhy Saidon said that the department had investigated the matter and decided to expel him.
“But he can appeal against the decision,” said Mokhy when contacted here yesterday.
On Thursday, a 28-year-old teacher was attacked by the 17-year-old student at SMK Bandar, Kota Tinggi, after she told him to do squats as punishment for being noisy in the school’s toilet.
She was in her class at 10.25am when she heard a group of students causing a commotion in the toilet.
She went over and told the nine boys to come out. The boys came out. Some jeered and taunted her.
The teacher decided to reprimand them by telling them to do 10 squats. However, the 17-year-old student ignored her and turned to return to the toilet.
The teacher grabbed his wrist to stop him but the boy shook off her hands, shoved her against a wall and started choking her before other students rushed to stop him.
Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Osman Mohamed Sebot said the teacher suffered bruises on her neck and other minor injuries.
Mokhy said the department met the teacher and the student’s parents before reaching the decision.
“Students do such things probably because they feel that the teachers should not discipline them.
“This could be due to recent reports where teachers were reprimanded for punishing their students,” said Mokhy.
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Schoolboy makes amends for action
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 31, 2007
KOTA TINGGI: The 17-year-old boy who tried to strangle his female teacher has made amends for his action.
In the presence of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar, who was at SMK Bandar Kota Tinggi to investigate the matter yesterday, the boy shook the teacher's hand and kissed it.
“We consider the case closed. The boy can appeal against the expulsion or asks to be transferred to another school,” Noh said.
The teacher said she would apply to be transferred to another school.
“I want to put the incident behind me,” said the teacher who taught English, Science and Mathematics.
Noh reiterated that all schools must follow the proper procedure in dealing with discipline issues, to be fair to all parties involved.
He said that while punishment was important to deal with discipline problems, adhering to the right process was even more important.
“I reminded all district offices last week that in such cases, the student, teacher, parents, parent-teacher associations and the police must be summoned to a hearing,” he said.
In this case, both parties acted emotionally, he said, adding that all teachers should not make spontaneous decisions.
“The student was wrong in this matter but the school was too focused on punishment and disregarded the right procedures.
“The student and his eight friends will undergo a motivation course at the curriculum centre in Johor Baru while the teacher will seek counselling,” said Noh.
Noh also said that a teacher in Bandar Baru Darul Aman, Kedah, who allegedly molested a student, would be suspended for two months.
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
2007 07: Ministry to amend rules on punishment for students
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday July 27, 2007
PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry wants to amend the decades-old regulations on punishment so that all parties are clear on how students should be disciplined.
At present, when a student commits an offence, the rules allow the school authorities to impose four types of punishment – warning, caning, suspension or expulsion.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the amendments would involve disciplining of the students, teachers’ responsibility and actions to be taken.
He said the regulations have been in existence since 1957.
“What we have now are too general, so we need to amend them to ensure that they (the forms of punishment) are clear to everyone,” he told a post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday.
Hishammuddin said he would defend teachers as long as they followed the rules when it came to disciplining a student.
“I believe the best way is still to solve problems face-to-face. But if students are not disciplined, it is the teachers who are blamed.
“The best way is to have an understanding between the schools and parent-teacher associations,” he added.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said that in reviewing the regulations, the ministry would be mindful about not allowing the students to be “untouchables”.
Pinching or pulling the ear of a student and other forms of punishment are considered “grey areas” under the present regulations.
Congress of Unions of Teachers in the Education Services president Jemale Paiman said the new regulations must be clear so that teachers, parents and students know what to expect.
“The punishment must also be appropriate to the offence committed,” he said.
National Parent-Teacher Association Council president Prof Mohd Ali Hassan said students must be disciplined but they should not be “dehumanised” in the process.
National Union of the Teaching Profession president Anuar Ibrahim said: “We feel it is time the regulations are reviewed to ensure that they are clearer for teachers.”
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Discipline positively
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
THE recently highlighted cases of harsh treatment meted out to pupils by their well-meaning teachers have resulted in the Education Ministry deciding to review the rules that were laid down as long ago as 1957.
Some amendments and clarification look to be in the offing. I would suggest that the most important change should be to do away with any physical punishment whatsoever: no hitting, caning, pinching, sitting in ponds, etc.
This would send a clear message to all concerned that schools and teachers will strive to be both moral and non-violent models to pupils, just as parents should be.
When children are met with acts of physical violence by adults, they withdraw into themselves or react in a similar fashion – they become reluctant learners or they become more aggressive and disobedient over time.
In either case, the psychological damage is done and the perpetrator has lost their goodwill and respect forever.
I have met teachers who have told me that they hit their pupils quite regularly for minor infringements of classroom rules and when asked why, they claimed the children liked it!
I was tempted to turn the tables on them to see whether they liked it too!
There are many forms that punishment can take in the school context that can be constructive, supportive and sensitive and which would reinforce both positive learning models and positive images of teachers and schools as effective moral and ethical leaders and carers.
Teachers need clear guidelines, training and support. They should feel confident that there is a support mechanism within their schools and the local education offices should they need help in dealing with disciplinary matters so that teachers such as Wee Yim Pien are not put in a difficult position and left to their own devices.
I deplore what she did but at the same time I’m sure she would not have done so if there were means by which she could discuss the issue, the potential punishments and their ramifications before acting.
I hope the Education Ministry will consult with teachers, teacher’s unions, parents and education experts before amending the current regulations and setting new guidelines.
Change will only work if those directly affected have been fully consulted and are in broad agreement. This will take time.
STEVE PROCTER,
English Language Co-ordinator, Perlis.
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Editorial: Lessons learned
NST Online. Columns. 28/7/07
THE recent spate of cases involving discipline in schools — or rather the lack of it, or of control over the measures taken to remedy that lack — make all the more welcome the advent of the amended Education Regulations (Student Discipline) 2006.
These will supplant the education rules set out in 1957 and 1959, accommodating the changing psychodynamics of school environments and the societies they serve.
The drafters of the original regulations, rooted in a bygone era when parents as a rule were only too glad to look to schools to discipline their offspring, could not have anticipated such radical changes in social conventions and norms as have taken place since then.
These days, any adult, whether teacher or parent, administering corporal punishment on a child risks being reported for abuse. Wising up to this, the present school-going generation has been notable for problems of bullying, truancy, juvenile delinquency and defiance of authority.
The backlash against this has been increasingly measured in teachers losing their temper and going well over the top in retribution: slaps, punches, flailing canes, even the infamous immersion incident that made newspaper front pages this past week.
Somewhat surprisingly (though in this, too, there is a lesson) that incident seems to have reached an amicable conclusion, with the students concerned declaring their love and support for the teacher in question, who asked for and received their forgiveness and that of their parents.
That episode is now seen as almost a family affair; a domestic spat that got out of hand but is now resolved with the contrition and repentance of all involved and tearful hugs all round. But other cases of teachers accused of using excessive force on their pupils may yet result in prematurely ended careers, if not criminal charges.
The intention of the new education rules is as much to protect teachers as students: an institutionalisation of procedures necessary to insulate all parties from the unpredictable excesses of the human temperament.
The new rules specify in more exacting detail the nexus between offence and punishment, the procedures for administering correction, the involvement of school boards and parent-teacher associations, and the recourse for aggrieved parties. It must be understood, however, that such recourse includes the press.
Those who take a dim view of the media highlighting such incidents should consider how such publicity heightens awareness among the public and authorities alike, accelerating action, catalysing change and ensuring that such transgressions do not recur.
PUTRAJAYA: The Education Ministry wants to amend the decades-old regulations on punishment so that all parties are clear on how students should be disciplined.
At present, when a student commits an offence, the rules allow the school authorities to impose four types of punishment – warning, caning, suspension or expulsion.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the amendments would involve disciplining of the students, teachers’ responsibility and actions to be taken.
He said the regulations have been in existence since 1957.
“What we have now are too general, so we need to amend them to ensure that they (the forms of punishment) are clear to everyone,” he told a post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday.
Hishammuddin said he would defend teachers as long as they followed the rules when it came to disciplining a student.
“I believe the best way is still to solve problems face-to-face. But if students are not disciplined, it is the teachers who are blamed.
“The best way is to have an understanding between the schools and parent-teacher associations,” he added.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said that in reviewing the regulations, the ministry would be mindful about not allowing the students to be “untouchables”.
Pinching or pulling the ear of a student and other forms of punishment are considered “grey areas” under the present regulations.
Congress of Unions of Teachers in the Education Services president Jemale Paiman said the new regulations must be clear so that teachers, parents and students know what to expect.
“The punishment must also be appropriate to the offence committed,” he said.
National Parent-Teacher Association Council president Prof Mohd Ali Hassan said students must be disciplined but they should not be “dehumanised” in the process.
National Union of the Teaching Profession president Anuar Ibrahim said: “We feel it is time the regulations are reviewed to ensure that they are clearer for teachers.”
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Discipline positively
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 28, 2007
THE recently highlighted cases of harsh treatment meted out to pupils by their well-meaning teachers have resulted in the Education Ministry deciding to review the rules that were laid down as long ago as 1957.
Some amendments and clarification look to be in the offing. I would suggest that the most important change should be to do away with any physical punishment whatsoever: no hitting, caning, pinching, sitting in ponds, etc.
This would send a clear message to all concerned that schools and teachers will strive to be both moral and non-violent models to pupils, just as parents should be.
When children are met with acts of physical violence by adults, they withdraw into themselves or react in a similar fashion – they become reluctant learners or they become more aggressive and disobedient over time.
In either case, the psychological damage is done and the perpetrator has lost their goodwill and respect forever.
I have met teachers who have told me that they hit their pupils quite regularly for minor infringements of classroom rules and when asked why, they claimed the children liked it!
I was tempted to turn the tables on them to see whether they liked it too!
There are many forms that punishment can take in the school context that can be constructive, supportive and sensitive and which would reinforce both positive learning models and positive images of teachers and schools as effective moral and ethical leaders and carers.
Teachers need clear guidelines, training and support. They should feel confident that there is a support mechanism within their schools and the local education offices should they need help in dealing with disciplinary matters so that teachers such as Wee Yim Pien are not put in a difficult position and left to their own devices.
I deplore what she did but at the same time I’m sure she would not have done so if there were means by which she could discuss the issue, the potential punishments and their ramifications before acting.
I hope the Education Ministry will consult with teachers, teacher’s unions, parents and education experts before amending the current regulations and setting new guidelines.
Change will only work if those directly affected have been fully consulted and are in broad agreement. This will take time.
STEVE PROCTER,
English Language Co-ordinator, Perlis.
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Editorial: Lessons learned
NST Online. Columns. 28/7/07
THE recent spate of cases involving discipline in schools — or rather the lack of it, or of control over the measures taken to remedy that lack — make all the more welcome the advent of the amended Education Regulations (Student Discipline) 2006.
These will supplant the education rules set out in 1957 and 1959, accommodating the changing psychodynamics of school environments and the societies they serve.
The drafters of the original regulations, rooted in a bygone era when parents as a rule were only too glad to look to schools to discipline their offspring, could not have anticipated such radical changes in social conventions and norms as have taken place since then.
These days, any adult, whether teacher or parent, administering corporal punishment on a child risks being reported for abuse. Wising up to this, the present school-going generation has been notable for problems of bullying, truancy, juvenile delinquency and defiance of authority.
The backlash against this has been increasingly measured in teachers losing their temper and going well over the top in retribution: slaps, punches, flailing canes, even the infamous immersion incident that made newspaper front pages this past week.
Somewhat surprisingly (though in this, too, there is a lesson) that incident seems to have reached an amicable conclusion, with the students concerned declaring their love and support for the teacher in question, who asked for and received their forgiveness and that of their parents.
That episode is now seen as almost a family affair; a domestic spat that got out of hand but is now resolved with the contrition and repentance of all involved and tearful hugs all round. But other cases of teachers accused of using excessive force on their pupils may yet result in prematurely ended careers, if not criminal charges.
The intention of the new education rules is as much to protect teachers as students: an institutionalisation of procedures necessary to insulate all parties from the unpredictable excesses of the human temperament.
The new rules specify in more exacting detail the nexus between offence and punishment, the procedures for administering correction, the involvement of school boards and parent-teacher associations, and the recourse for aggrieved parties. It must be understood, however, that such recourse includes the press.
Those who take a dim view of the media highlighting such incidents should consider how such publicity heightens awareness among the public and authorities alike, accelerating action, catalysing change and ensuring that such transgressions do not recur.
2007 07: Parents and teachers: Another slapping incident
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday July 27, 2007
KLANG: A motor workshop owner is furious with the discipline teacher of a Tamil school whom he claimed had slapped his son over a trivial matter.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, said the teacher had told his son Kirbakaran, who attends SJK (T) Batu Empat, Kampung Jawa, to pick up some rubbish in the classroom on Tuesday.
“My son was packing his schoolbag that moment and because of this he started picking up the rubbish only after completing the task,” said Shanmugamoorthy.
He claimed the teacher was enraged that the Year Four pupil had not picked up the rubbish immediately after she had ordered him to do so.
“She chided my son for the delay and slapped him for it.
“Kirbakaran stumbled and the left side of his face slammed against the corner of his desk,” alleged Shanmugamoorthy.
Shanmugamoorthy, who went to pick Kirbakaran from school, said he asked the teacher what had transpired but alleged that he did not expect the brush-off that awaited him.
“She told me that she had the right to hit Kirbakaran,” claimed Shanmugamoorthy.
He lodged a police report and took his son, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical examination at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital the same day.
He alleged the same teacher had also slapped his Year Two daughter Thanusha for wearing her hair in a single plait a couple of months ago.
“She told Thanusha that she should wear her hair in double plaits whenever in school and then slapped her,” he said.
When contacted the school’s headmaster K. Chethraselvan said he had already gone to the state education department for advice on what to do next.
“Necessary and appropriate action would be taken as soon as possible,” he added.
KLANG: A motor workshop owner is furious with the discipline teacher of a Tamil school whom he claimed had slapped his son over a trivial matter.
M. Shanmugamoorthy, 35, said the teacher had told his son Kirbakaran, who attends SJK (T) Batu Empat, Kampung Jawa, to pick up some rubbish in the classroom on Tuesday.
“My son was packing his schoolbag that moment and because of this he started picking up the rubbish only after completing the task,” said Shanmugamoorthy.
He claimed the teacher was enraged that the Year Four pupil had not picked up the rubbish immediately after she had ordered him to do so.
“She chided my son for the delay and slapped him for it.
“Kirbakaran stumbled and the left side of his face slammed against the corner of his desk,” alleged Shanmugamoorthy.
Shanmugamoorthy, who went to pick Kirbakaran from school, said he asked the teacher what had transpired but alleged that he did not expect the brush-off that awaited him.
“She told me that she had the right to hit Kirbakaran,” claimed Shanmugamoorthy.
He lodged a police report and took his son, who had a blue-black mark near the eye, for a medical examination at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital the same day.
He alleged the same teacher had also slapped his Year Two daughter Thanusha for wearing her hair in a single plait a couple of months ago.
“She told Thanusha that she should wear her hair in double plaits whenever in school and then slapped her,” he said.
When contacted the school’s headmaster K. Chethraselvan said he had already gone to the state education department for advice on what to do next.
“Necessary and appropriate action would be taken as soon as possible,” he added.
2007 07: Education Ministry goes on the road to talk about school discipline
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
PENANG: The Education Ministry is touring the country to tell teachers that it supports their action against delinquent students.
However, said Deputy Minister Datuk Noh Omar, the ministry has made it known it will not condone any punishment that is excessive and not in line with stipulated guidelines.
“I have covered all schools in Selangor since the roadshow started about a week ago,” he told reporters after opening the Fifth International Conference on Literacy (Litcon 2007) here yesterday.
“I am gathering feedback on what to amend in the Discipline Regulations (Students) 1957,” he said, commenting on the recent spate of disciplinary issues in the country.
The latest involved a primary school headmistress in Kota Kinabalu, who has been suspended for two months following complaints that she slapped 22 pupils for failing to turn in their homework on July 18.
In Sibu, a school warden made 200 girl boarders squat in a pond after the school's toilet bowls were repeatedly clogged with sanitary pads.
Noh said the ministry's two-month tour was to give an assurance to school heads that it supported their actions provided the punishments were within the guidelines.
He said there had been proposals that corporal punishment be decided by school disciplinary boards, instead of the school heads, as provided for in current regulations.
“There is a clause on caning but it does not state how it should be carried out.
“We will come up with more specifications, such as the maximum number of strokes allowed,'' he said, adding that the amendments to the regulations would be gazetted later this year.
Noh said the ministry did not want teachers to be demoralised as it could lead them to stop disciplining their students.
“However, we also don't want to lose public confidence if punishments are too harsh,” he explained.
He added: “In most incidents, it is the teachers' commitment to discipline that puts them in a bad light.”
“We don't want this commitment to die but the efforts must be in accordance with our guidelines,” he said.
On the expulsion of 15 Mara Junior Science College students in Negri Sembilan over the ragging of their juniors on June 17, Noh said they would have to go through a motivation course before they would be allowed to enrol again in mainstream schools.
PENANG: The Education Ministry is touring the country to tell teachers that it supports their action against delinquent students.
However, said Deputy Minister Datuk Noh Omar, the ministry has made it known it will not condone any punishment that is excessive and not in line with stipulated guidelines.
“I have covered all schools in Selangor since the roadshow started about a week ago,” he told reporters after opening the Fifth International Conference on Literacy (Litcon 2007) here yesterday.
“I am gathering feedback on what to amend in the Discipline Regulations (Students) 1957,” he said, commenting on the recent spate of disciplinary issues in the country.
The latest involved a primary school headmistress in Kota Kinabalu, who has been suspended for two months following complaints that she slapped 22 pupils for failing to turn in their homework on July 18.
In Sibu, a school warden made 200 girl boarders squat in a pond after the school's toilet bowls were repeatedly clogged with sanitary pads.
Noh said the ministry's two-month tour was to give an assurance to school heads that it supported their actions provided the punishments were within the guidelines.
He said there had been proposals that corporal punishment be decided by school disciplinary boards, instead of the school heads, as provided for in current regulations.
“There is a clause on caning but it does not state how it should be carried out.
“We will come up with more specifications, such as the maximum number of strokes allowed,'' he said, adding that the amendments to the regulations would be gazetted later this year.
Noh said the ministry did not want teachers to be demoralised as it could lead them to stop disciplining their students.
“However, we also don't want to lose public confidence if punishments are too harsh,” he explained.
He added: “In most incidents, it is the teachers' commitment to discipline that puts them in a bad light.”
“We don't want this commitment to die but the efforts must be in accordance with our guidelines,” he said.
On the expulsion of 15 Mara Junior Science College students in Negri Sembilan over the ragging of their juniors on June 17, Noh said they would have to go through a motivation course before they would be allowed to enrol again in mainstream schools.
Monday, 30 July 2007
2007 07: 7yr-old held by the neck and caned by teacher
The Star Online. News. Nation. Wednesday July 25, 2007
SUNGAI PETANI: A housewife has alleged that a teacher held her seven-year-old daughter by the neck and caned her on her legs, stomach, hands and back.
Housewife T. Rukumani, 42, claimed the teacher also slapped K. Shamni on her face and knocked her head with her knuckle during a Bahasa Malaysia class in SRJK (T) Kalaimagal in Permatang Gedong near here on Tuesday. She claimed the daughter was punished in front of the other pupils because she had not read loud enough an essay that was written on the blackboard.
Shamni returned home from school at 6.45pm and related the incident to her mother.
Shamni’s father K. Kasiraja later took her to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital where she has been admitted. A police report was lodged at the hospital.
Rukumani claimed the teacher stopped caning her daughter when another teacher passed by and stopped her.
“This teacher took my daughter to the staff room and applied ointment on her hands and body.
The teacher also told my daughter not to inform us of the caning,” said Rukumani when met at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital on Tuesday night.
School authorities declined to comment on the matter.
State Education Director Misrah Ibrahim when contacted said he not aware of the incident but would look into the matter.
SUNGAI PETANI: A housewife has alleged that a teacher held her seven-year-old daughter by the neck and caned her on her legs, stomach, hands and back.
Housewife T. Rukumani, 42, claimed the teacher also slapped K. Shamni on her face and knocked her head with her knuckle during a Bahasa Malaysia class in SRJK (T) Kalaimagal in Permatang Gedong near here on Tuesday. She claimed the daughter was punished in front of the other pupils because she had not read loud enough an essay that was written on the blackboard.
Shamni returned home from school at 6.45pm and related the incident to her mother.
Shamni’s father K. Kasiraja later took her to Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital where she has been admitted. A police report was lodged at the hospital.
Rukumani claimed the teacher stopped caning her daughter when another teacher passed by and stopped her.
“This teacher took my daughter to the staff room and applied ointment on her hands and body.
The teacher also told my daughter not to inform us of the caning,” said Rukumani when met at Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital on Tuesday night.
School authorities declined to comment on the matter.
State Education Director Misrah Ibrahim when contacted said he not aware of the incident but would look into the matter.
2007 07: DISCIPLINE IN SCHOOL: What is a teacher to do?
NST Online. Letters. 24/7/07
By : M.S. DHALIWAL, Kajang
AT first, it was the football-team bashing time. Now, it seems that the attention has been diverted to the teachers.
First, it was the case of a student who uttered an expletive and a teacher who allegedly punched her. Next, it was the case involving students who failed to hand in their homework. Finally, the case involving 200 schoolgirls in a pond and a warden who took centre stage.
As a teacher myself, it is disheartening to read reports portraying teachers in a bad light. No doubt, teachers have to follow certain guidelines in curtailing discipline problems but we must remember teachers are human beings, too. As parents, you have to follow a certain procedure in disciplining your child. A parent may have to deal with three or four children, but a teacher has to discipline 30 to 40 of them.
A 13-year-old girl utters a curse word in the presence of the others. What would you do? You may not punch her on the face, but believe me, the last thing that you would do is open the procedure book for guidance. I am not condoning what the teacher did but had any of us been in that situation, we, too, would be facing suspension.
During my school days, being slapped or caned by the headmaster or headmistress was something shameful, not only for the student but the parents as well. I remember parents dragging their children to the headmaster’s office to apologise for the child’s misdeeds and inflicting further punishment on their child themselves.
Nowadays, we still have parents dragging their children to the headmaster’s office but with a posse of reporters and photographers. Instead of apologising, they demand apologies. Instead of shame, they invite publicity.
Before I attempt to "defend" the Sibu incident, allow me to share an incident that took place in my school. Just last week, I stumbled upon a few boys who were covered from head to toe with flour. The class was a mess with flour on the tables, chairs and the floor.
It was quite obvious that there had been a "flour fight". However, when I demanded an explanation, no one admitted starting the fight or even bringing flour to school.
Even the threat of calling their parents was futile. Finally, when I waved my cane, the students started volunteering names and details of the "flour fight".
The warden in Sibu was not as lucky as I was. She might have threatened to dip them in the pond and probably had to do it when all the students kept mum.
I am not saying what the teachers above did is right or wrong. I am just saying that suspending or putting these teachers in a bad light is not the right thing to do.
In a way, I salute these teachers for trying to make a change. Obviously, it would have been easier to just ignore the problem.
There are many teachers out there who opt to play it safe. They just walk into the class, deliver their lesson and walk out again, ignoring the students who curse, who do not do their homework and those who do not pay attention.
I am from the old school. I believe in instilling discipline. My students dare not curse me, they will finish their homework and they will admit if they are wrong. However, after reading about the cases mentioned, maybe I, too, should play it safe.
By : M.S. DHALIWAL, Kajang
AT first, it was the football-team bashing time. Now, it seems that the attention has been diverted to the teachers.
First, it was the case of a student who uttered an expletive and a teacher who allegedly punched her. Next, it was the case involving students who failed to hand in their homework. Finally, the case involving 200 schoolgirls in a pond and a warden who took centre stage.
As a teacher myself, it is disheartening to read reports portraying teachers in a bad light. No doubt, teachers have to follow certain guidelines in curtailing discipline problems but we must remember teachers are human beings, too. As parents, you have to follow a certain procedure in disciplining your child. A parent may have to deal with three or four children, but a teacher has to discipline 30 to 40 of them.
A 13-year-old girl utters a curse word in the presence of the others. What would you do? You may not punch her on the face, but believe me, the last thing that you would do is open the procedure book for guidance. I am not condoning what the teacher did but had any of us been in that situation, we, too, would be facing suspension.
During my school days, being slapped or caned by the headmaster or headmistress was something shameful, not only for the student but the parents as well. I remember parents dragging their children to the headmaster’s office to apologise for the child’s misdeeds and inflicting further punishment on their child themselves.
Nowadays, we still have parents dragging their children to the headmaster’s office but with a posse of reporters and photographers. Instead of apologising, they demand apologies. Instead of shame, they invite publicity.
Before I attempt to "defend" the Sibu incident, allow me to share an incident that took place in my school. Just last week, I stumbled upon a few boys who were covered from head to toe with flour. The class was a mess with flour on the tables, chairs and the floor.
It was quite obvious that there had been a "flour fight". However, when I demanded an explanation, no one admitted starting the fight or even bringing flour to school.
Even the threat of calling their parents was futile. Finally, when I waved my cane, the students started volunteering names and details of the "flour fight".
The warden in Sibu was not as lucky as I was. She might have threatened to dip them in the pond and probably had to do it when all the students kept mum.
I am not saying what the teachers above did is right or wrong. I am just saying that suspending or putting these teachers in a bad light is not the right thing to do.
In a way, I salute these teachers for trying to make a change. Obviously, it would have been easier to just ignore the problem.
There are many teachers out there who opt to play it safe. They just walk into the class, deliver their lesson and walk out again, ignoring the students who curse, who do not do their homework and those who do not pay attention.
I am from the old school. I believe in instilling discipline. My students dare not curse me, they will finish their homework and they will admit if they are wrong. However, after reading about the cases mentioned, maybe I, too, should play it safe.
Thursday, 26 July 2007
2007 07: Ministry to probe squatting incident
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 22, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry will carry out a thorough investigation into a claim that 200 girl boarders in Sarawak were forced into a fish pond as punishment because one of them left a sanitary towel in a toilet bowl.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said an investigation was under way to establish what actually happened.
It was reported that the girls from a secondary school in Sibu were forced to squat in the murky fish pond for an hour.
The Form One to Form Five students were allegedly forced into the pond inside the school compound from 4pm on Wednesday by a woman warden.
The warden watched over them with an umbrella as it was raining.
“We do not want to point fingers at anyone now but we will take action against those who are wrong,” Hishammuddin told reporters after attending the convocation of 500 teachers at the Teachers Training Institute here yesterday.
In Kuching, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Fatimah Abdullah said the case should be brought to the school’s disciplinary board and a report handed over to the state education department.
Fatimah said any punishment meted out must be in accordance with the school’s rules and regulations.
“But I’m sure the punishment for those caught throwing a sanitary pad into the toilet bowl is not asking them to squat in a pond.”
The school's parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu who runs the school canteen, witnessed the incident and contacted a local daily to expose the incident.
Describing the punishment as “harsh”, Kiu said he would speak to the parents before deciding on the next course of action.
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FISH POND PUNISHMENT: Teacher should be sacked, says ex-DG
NST Online. Newsbreak. 23/7/07
Former education director-general Tan Sri Murad Mohd Nor has urged for the immediate sacking of a teacher in Sarawak who forced about 200 female students into a fish pond as a punishment last week.
The English teacher, who is also a hostel warden, had no right to mete out such punishment because as a warden she was supposed to protect and assist the students besides being a substitute parent while they were at the hostel, he said.
“The parents entrusted her to protect their children. Instead, they were abused for an offence they may not have committed,” he said and added that it did not mean that students were immune from punishments.
If they were proven guilty, only the headmaster and disciplinary teacher could mete out punishments on them and the punishment should be within the rule and not excessive, he said.
It was reported that in the Wednesday’s incident, the teacher ordered the girl boarders to stay in a murky fishpond inside the school compound for an hour because one of them dumped a sanitary pad into a toilet bowl.
Murad said teachers should be rational in disciplining students so as not to go against the rules set out by the government.
“We are in an educational institution not a prison. Therefore, teachers are bound by regulations in carrying out punishments,” he said.
He also advised teachers to adopt the correct approach in dealing with indiscipline among students and practise what they had learnt when undergoing the teaching course.
“If we educate the students in a violent way, the students will be violent. And don’t be too enthusiastic with discipline,” he said.
He said teachers should use a good manners approach, be compromising, instill care and love values, and not to follow extreme emotions when educating students.
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Teacher shows courage in pond punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Tuesday July 24, 2007
I REFER to “Fish pond punishment” (The Star, July 23) and as a parent of schoolgoing kids, I salute Ms Wee Yim Pien for her outstanding courage and sense of common decency in meting out punishment to the schoolgirls as reported.
To state my own experience, I have transferred my youngest son from his school last year because of the inability of his headmistress and teachers to maintain discipline in school.
To the PTA chairman, Jimmy Kiu, my advice is not to bark up the wrong tree. Leave Wee alone and run an education programme on his school’s kids on personal health and hygiene.
I have a school-going daughter who gets regular lectures from me on where to throw her sanitary pads. If I so much as know that she throws them into any toilet, be it at home, or school, or any public toilet, I would hit the roof.
To the parents of the girls who have committed this mistake, especially the mothers, grow up! My bottom line always is, if you do not have the maturity to bring up your kids, then do not have sex.
If you must indulge in the latter, then be ready to face up to the responsibility of bringing up a decent kid who will grow up into a decent adult with a family of his own to nurture.
I wish to add that I pray that every school has teachers like Wee because our children spend at least five hours in school every school day.
And finally, to Wee, May God Bless you and Keep You Safe.
PUTEN JERINEH RAMLI
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
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Teacher in 'pond squat' case not suspended
The Star Online. Nation. News. Wednesday July 25, 2007
KUCHING: The SMK Bawang Assan warden who forced 200 schoolgirls to squat in a pond as a form of punishment is not under suspension.
State education director Rabiah Johari clarified that Wee Yim Pien, also the school’s English teacher, had not gone on leave as reported.
"She is not on leave, she is back teaching at the school," she told reporters after receiving anti-bullying posters for schools. "A police report has not been lodged."
Rabiah said the department was still investigating the incident and would only decide on the next course of action when the probe was completed.
She said officers from the department were sent to Sibu on Tuesday to assist the divisional education office in the investigation.
"For disciplinary cases involving teachers, we have certain procedures which we will follow in deciding what action to take," she added.
She said the department did not condone what Wee had done but pointed out that teachers needed to take disciplinary action against errant students.
"We don’t want teachers to not discipline students as this will lead to social problems. In a case like this, we do not look only at the teacher’s actions but also whether she was feeling pressured or stressed.
"After all, according to reports she had been trying for three years to get the students to dispose sanitary pads properly and not clog the toilets," she said.
"So maybe she felt stressed by the situation," she said, adding that the department had given Wee some counselling.
Meanwhile the Federation of Sarawak Teachers’ Unions said issues involving school discipline should be left to the proper authorities to resolve.
It also recommended that the disciplinary guidelines for teachers, set out in 1959, be reviewed and updated to suit current conditions.
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There are limits to punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Wednesday July 25, 2007
I CAN’T agree with the letter “Teacher shows courage in pond punishment” (The Star, July 24)
In meting out punishment on kids we must be practical and pragmatic. After all, they are children. Could the teacher have not acted a bit wiser here?
Wrongs must be punished, but to kill an ant you do not use a brick, a pebble would do.
To me any punishment must not be humiliating or capable of destroying one’s self- esteem.
BULBIR SINGH
Seremban
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Pond squat issue: Settled, all is forgiven
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
KUCHING: The dust has settled over the infamous "pond squat" issue and SMK Bawang Assan school warden Wee Yim Pien has been forgiven.
She has also apologised to the families for forcing some 170 girl boarders into a fishpond last week.
Wee, 27, who is also the schools' English teacher, with a Master's degree, had meted out the punishment over repeated dumping of sanitary pads in the school's toilet bowls.
The school’s parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu said: "Everybody has forgiven her."
He added that the parents and the students wanted the teacher to stay.
"We do not want the students to suffer as the PMR examination is coming.
“The incident is settled in good faith.It is hoped that there is no more a repetition,” Kiu said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
This followed a meeting attended by Kiu, Wee, school principal Kandon Ngadi, Sibu divisional education officer Charles Tiong. parents and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar’s special representative Shashim Shah on Wednesday.
An emotional Wee was seen hugging some of the parents and shook hands with others as the episode came to an end.
Kiu said it would be up to the state Education Department to decide whether action should be taken against Wee.
Shashim said the department’s report on the investigation into the incident had been sumbitted to the Education Ministry, which would decide if any action would be taken against Wee.
Asked if Wee would continue as the warden, Kiu declined to comment, saying that this was the school’s administrative matter. The school has more than 500 students, including some 300 borders.
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Teacher in ‘pond squat’ case not suspended
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
KUCHING: The SMK Bawang Assan warden who forced 200 schoolgirls to squat in a pond as a form of punishment is not under suspension.
State education director Rabiah Johari clarified that Wee Yim Pien, also the school’s English teacher, had not gone on leave as reported.
“She is back teaching at the school,” she told reporters after receiving anti-bullying posters for schools.
“A police report has not been lodged.”
Rabiah said the department would decide on the next course of action when the probe was completed.
She said the department did not condone what Wee had done but pointed out that teachers needed to take disciplinary action against errant students.
“We don’t want teachers to not discipline students as this will lead to social problems. In a case like this, we do not look only at the teacher’s actions but also whether she was feeling pressured or stressed.
“After all, according to reports she had been trying for three years to get the students to dispose sanitary pads properly and not clog the toilets,” she said.
The Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) has come out in support of its members accused of meting out harsh punishment on students.
Its president William Gani Bina noted that teachers and school heads were helpless as they could not reply to the accusations thrown at them in public.
“No teacher or school head who is in the right frame of mind would mete out excessive punishments,” he said adding that student indiscipline was on the rise.
He said there were an increasing number of students who have total disregard for school authority, and disobeying orders and directives.
Meanwhile the school’s parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu said Wee had apologised to the parents in a meeting yesterday.
Following the apology, he said the parents withdrew their demand for Wee to be transferred out.
.........................................................
Many have benefited from corporal punishment
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
I FULLY agree with Puten Jerinah Ramli (“Teacher shows courage in pond punishment” – The Star, July 24).
I also empathise with the headmistress of SK Gayang in Tuaran, too; she has been suspended for slapping some students.
I am glad I was not tarred and feathered for slapping students for misbehaving or for not doing their work when I taught at a kampung school, a fishing town school or two premier city schools.
The principals of the four schools where I taught were strict disciplinarians and supported me to the hilt.
The principals of the premier city schools were known throughout the country as good administrators and great disciplinarians. They were eventually promoted to state chief education officers, and always backed teachers fully where corporal punishment was concerned.
Students caught playing truant at the kampung school were rounded up by the principal and taken to help old farmers till their padi fields. I used to have fishermen-parents coming to thank me for disciplining their children.
Students at the premier city schools who gave problems found themselves doing circuit training on the sports field.
I am gratified to know that so many of my students from the different schools have done well.
Some of them hold top positions in the public and private sectors in our country, in Singapore, in the UK, Europe and Australia.
We still meet at alumni gatherings, laughing and reminiscing at the whiplash of my right hand of years gone by!
One of them, the CEO of a multi-national company, will tell everyone that the sting of my five fingers on his cheek was the catalyst that woke him up to work hard and be what he is today!
B.S. TEOH,
Ipoh, Perak.
.........................................................
Let the teacher do her job
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
I FULLY support what Puten Jerineh Ramli wrote in her letter regarding the fish pond punishment incident (The Star, July 24).
When I was in school and the toilets were jammed up or misused, classes of students had to take turns to stay in the toilets for at least 10 minutes as punishment.
I resented the discipline then but now being a mother, I have taught my children well. They will not mess up toilets, throw things out of the car and, in general, they care for and respect public amenities.
These days, parents treat their children like precious little princes and princesses. In public places, they are allowed to run wild and mess around even with things on display.
I have seen young children shouting at their maids even in the parents’ presence and get away without reprimand. I have seen maids putting shoes on schoolgoing children who seem quite capable of doing it on their own!
So, instead of picking on a teacher who’s trying to do something to instil discipline, let her do her job and retain her respect.
Children have to learn to respect those in authority early in life. If they don’t respect their teachers now, they will have no respect for others in authority later on in life.
JEANNETTE L. TAI,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
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Their mistake, so they must be punished
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
AS a student, I strongly agree with the warden’s decision to punish the schoolgirls. They have to realise that it was their mistake, and therefore deserved to be punished.
Students should respect teachers as figures of authorities, because whatever a teacher does is for the benefit of the students.
As for parents, they should understand the reason behind the punishments. If parents continue to spoil their children, what is the point of having teachers to educate students?
CONCERNED STUDENT,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
KOTA KINABALU: The Education Ministry will carry out a thorough investigation into a claim that 200 girl boarders in Sarawak were forced into a fish pond as punishment because one of them left a sanitary towel in a toilet bowl.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said an investigation was under way to establish what actually happened.
It was reported that the girls from a secondary school in Sibu were forced to squat in the murky fish pond for an hour.
The Form One to Form Five students were allegedly forced into the pond inside the school compound from 4pm on Wednesday by a woman warden.
The warden watched over them with an umbrella as it was raining.
“We do not want to point fingers at anyone now but we will take action against those who are wrong,” Hishammuddin told reporters after attending the convocation of 500 teachers at the Teachers Training Institute here yesterday.
In Kuching, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Fatimah Abdullah said the case should be brought to the school’s disciplinary board and a report handed over to the state education department.
Fatimah said any punishment meted out must be in accordance with the school’s rules and regulations.
“But I’m sure the punishment for those caught throwing a sanitary pad into the toilet bowl is not asking them to squat in a pond.”
The school's parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu who runs the school canteen, witnessed the incident and contacted a local daily to expose the incident.
Describing the punishment as “harsh”, Kiu said he would speak to the parents before deciding on the next course of action.
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FISH POND PUNISHMENT: Teacher should be sacked, says ex-DG
NST Online. Newsbreak. 23/7/07
Former education director-general Tan Sri Murad Mohd Nor has urged for the immediate sacking of a teacher in Sarawak who forced about 200 female students into a fish pond as a punishment last week.
The English teacher, who is also a hostel warden, had no right to mete out such punishment because as a warden she was supposed to protect and assist the students besides being a substitute parent while they were at the hostel, he said.
“The parents entrusted her to protect their children. Instead, they were abused for an offence they may not have committed,” he said and added that it did not mean that students were immune from punishments.
If they were proven guilty, only the headmaster and disciplinary teacher could mete out punishments on them and the punishment should be within the rule and not excessive, he said.
It was reported that in the Wednesday’s incident, the teacher ordered the girl boarders to stay in a murky fishpond inside the school compound for an hour because one of them dumped a sanitary pad into a toilet bowl.
Murad said teachers should be rational in disciplining students so as not to go against the rules set out by the government.
“We are in an educational institution not a prison. Therefore, teachers are bound by regulations in carrying out punishments,” he said.
He also advised teachers to adopt the correct approach in dealing with indiscipline among students and practise what they had learnt when undergoing the teaching course.
“If we educate the students in a violent way, the students will be violent. And don’t be too enthusiastic with discipline,” he said.
He said teachers should use a good manners approach, be compromising, instill care and love values, and not to follow extreme emotions when educating students.
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Teacher shows courage in pond punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Tuesday July 24, 2007
I REFER to “Fish pond punishment” (The Star, July 23) and as a parent of schoolgoing kids, I salute Ms Wee Yim Pien for her outstanding courage and sense of common decency in meting out punishment to the schoolgirls as reported.
To state my own experience, I have transferred my youngest son from his school last year because of the inability of his headmistress and teachers to maintain discipline in school.
To the PTA chairman, Jimmy Kiu, my advice is not to bark up the wrong tree. Leave Wee alone and run an education programme on his school’s kids on personal health and hygiene.
I have a school-going daughter who gets regular lectures from me on where to throw her sanitary pads. If I so much as know that she throws them into any toilet, be it at home, or school, or any public toilet, I would hit the roof.
To the parents of the girls who have committed this mistake, especially the mothers, grow up! My bottom line always is, if you do not have the maturity to bring up your kids, then do not have sex.
If you must indulge in the latter, then be ready to face up to the responsibility of bringing up a decent kid who will grow up into a decent adult with a family of his own to nurture.
I wish to add that I pray that every school has teachers like Wee because our children spend at least five hours in school every school day.
And finally, to Wee, May God Bless you and Keep You Safe.
PUTEN JERINEH RAMLI
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
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Teacher in 'pond squat' case not suspended
The Star Online. Nation. News. Wednesday July 25, 2007
KUCHING: The SMK Bawang Assan warden who forced 200 schoolgirls to squat in a pond as a form of punishment is not under suspension.
State education director Rabiah Johari clarified that Wee Yim Pien, also the school’s English teacher, had not gone on leave as reported.
"She is not on leave, she is back teaching at the school," she told reporters after receiving anti-bullying posters for schools. "A police report has not been lodged."
Rabiah said the department was still investigating the incident and would only decide on the next course of action when the probe was completed.
She said officers from the department were sent to Sibu on Tuesday to assist the divisional education office in the investigation.
"For disciplinary cases involving teachers, we have certain procedures which we will follow in deciding what action to take," she added.
She said the department did not condone what Wee had done but pointed out that teachers needed to take disciplinary action against errant students.
"We don’t want teachers to not discipline students as this will lead to social problems. In a case like this, we do not look only at the teacher’s actions but also whether she was feeling pressured or stressed.
"After all, according to reports she had been trying for three years to get the students to dispose sanitary pads properly and not clog the toilets," she said.
"So maybe she felt stressed by the situation," she said, adding that the department had given Wee some counselling.
Meanwhile the Federation of Sarawak Teachers’ Unions said issues involving school discipline should be left to the proper authorities to resolve.
It also recommended that the disciplinary guidelines for teachers, set out in 1959, be reviewed and updated to suit current conditions.
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There are limits to punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Wednesday July 25, 2007
I CAN’T agree with the letter “Teacher shows courage in pond punishment” (The Star, July 24)
In meting out punishment on kids we must be practical and pragmatic. After all, they are children. Could the teacher have not acted a bit wiser here?
Wrongs must be punished, but to kill an ant you do not use a brick, a pebble would do.
To me any punishment must not be humiliating or capable of destroying one’s self- esteem.
BULBIR SINGH
Seremban
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Pond squat issue: Settled, all is forgiven
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
KUCHING: The dust has settled over the infamous "pond squat" issue and SMK Bawang Assan school warden Wee Yim Pien has been forgiven.
She has also apologised to the families for forcing some 170 girl boarders into a fishpond last week.
Wee, 27, who is also the schools' English teacher, with a Master's degree, had meted out the punishment over repeated dumping of sanitary pads in the school's toilet bowls.
The school’s parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu said: "Everybody has forgiven her."
He added that the parents and the students wanted the teacher to stay.
"We do not want the students to suffer as the PMR examination is coming.
“The incident is settled in good faith.It is hoped that there is no more a repetition,” Kiu said in a telephone interview on Thursday.
This followed a meeting attended by Kiu, Wee, school principal Kandon Ngadi, Sibu divisional education officer Charles Tiong. parents and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar’s special representative Shashim Shah on Wednesday.
An emotional Wee was seen hugging some of the parents and shook hands with others as the episode came to an end.
Kiu said it would be up to the state Education Department to decide whether action should be taken against Wee.
Shashim said the department’s report on the investigation into the incident had been sumbitted to the Education Ministry, which would decide if any action would be taken against Wee.
Asked if Wee would continue as the warden, Kiu declined to comment, saying that this was the school’s administrative matter. The school has more than 500 students, including some 300 borders.
.........................................................
Teacher in ‘pond squat’ case not suspended
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
KUCHING: The SMK Bawang Assan warden who forced 200 schoolgirls to squat in a pond as a form of punishment is not under suspension.
State education director Rabiah Johari clarified that Wee Yim Pien, also the school’s English teacher, had not gone on leave as reported.
“She is back teaching at the school,” she told reporters after receiving anti-bullying posters for schools.
“A police report has not been lodged.”
Rabiah said the department would decide on the next course of action when the probe was completed.
She said the department did not condone what Wee had done but pointed out that teachers needed to take disciplinary action against errant students.
“We don’t want teachers to not discipline students as this will lead to social problems. In a case like this, we do not look only at the teacher’s actions but also whether she was feeling pressured or stressed.
“After all, according to reports she had been trying for three years to get the students to dispose sanitary pads properly and not clog the toilets,” she said.
The Sarawak Teachers Union (STU) has come out in support of its members accused of meting out harsh punishment on students.
Its president William Gani Bina noted that teachers and school heads were helpless as they could not reply to the accusations thrown at them in public.
“No teacher or school head who is in the right frame of mind would mete out excessive punishments,” he said adding that student indiscipline was on the rise.
He said there were an increasing number of students who have total disregard for school authority, and disobeying orders and directives.
Meanwhile the school’s parent-teacher association chairman Jimmy Kiu said Wee had apologised to the parents in a meeting yesterday.
Following the apology, he said the parents withdrew their demand for Wee to be transferred out.
.........................................................
Many have benefited from corporal punishment
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
I FULLY agree with Puten Jerinah Ramli (“Teacher shows courage in pond punishment” – The Star, July 24).
I also empathise with the headmistress of SK Gayang in Tuaran, too; she has been suspended for slapping some students.
I am glad I was not tarred and feathered for slapping students for misbehaving or for not doing their work when I taught at a kampung school, a fishing town school or two premier city schools.
The principals of the four schools where I taught were strict disciplinarians and supported me to the hilt.
The principals of the premier city schools were known throughout the country as good administrators and great disciplinarians. They were eventually promoted to state chief education officers, and always backed teachers fully where corporal punishment was concerned.
Students caught playing truant at the kampung school were rounded up by the principal and taken to help old farmers till their padi fields. I used to have fishermen-parents coming to thank me for disciplining their children.
Students at the premier city schools who gave problems found themselves doing circuit training on the sports field.
I am gratified to know that so many of my students from the different schools have done well.
Some of them hold top positions in the public and private sectors in our country, in Singapore, in the UK, Europe and Australia.
We still meet at alumni gatherings, laughing and reminiscing at the whiplash of my right hand of years gone by!
One of them, the CEO of a multi-national company, will tell everyone that the sting of my five fingers on his cheek was the catalyst that woke him up to work hard and be what he is today!
B.S. TEOH,
Ipoh, Perak.
.........................................................
Let the teacher do her job
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
I FULLY support what Puten Jerineh Ramli wrote in her letter regarding the fish pond punishment incident (The Star, July 24).
When I was in school and the toilets were jammed up or misused, classes of students had to take turns to stay in the toilets for at least 10 minutes as punishment.
I resented the discipline then but now being a mother, I have taught my children well. They will not mess up toilets, throw things out of the car and, in general, they care for and respect public amenities.
These days, parents treat their children like precious little princes and princesses. In public places, they are allowed to run wild and mess around even with things on display.
I have seen young children shouting at their maids even in the parents’ presence and get away without reprimand. I have seen maids putting shoes on schoolgoing children who seem quite capable of doing it on their own!
So, instead of picking on a teacher who’s trying to do something to instil discipline, let her do her job and retain her respect.
Children have to learn to respect those in authority early in life. If they don’t respect their teachers now, they will have no respect for others in authority later on in life.
JEANNETTE L. TAI,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
.........................................................
Their mistake, so they must be punished
The Star Online. News. Nation. Thursday July 26, 2007
AS a student, I strongly agree with the warden’s decision to punish the schoolgirls. They have to realise that it was their mistake, and therefore deserved to be punished.
Students should respect teachers as figures of authorities, because whatever a teacher does is for the benefit of the students.
As for parents, they should understand the reason behind the punishments. If parents continue to spoil their children, what is the point of having teachers to educate students?
CONCERNED STUDENT,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
2007 07: School kids lodge police report over injuries inflicted by caning
The Star Online. News. Nation. Sunday July 22, 2007
MIRI: Seven 13-year old students from SMK Long Lama have lodged police reports claiming that they had suffered injuries to their backs and buttocks because of repeated canings by their teacher.
The Form One students are from the remote school located more than 300km inland from Miri, in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.
They have also lodged complaints at the Miri Education Department following the incident that they alleged took place on Thursday night at their school's hostel.
The parents of the students came down to Miri over the weekend to seek advice from the authorities here after lodging the police reports at the Long Lama police station.
In their reports, they claimed that a male teacher had caned their children between 10 and 20 times each after he had found the hostel in a mess, with rubbish strewn around.
The students suffered physical and mental anguish because of the incident, and some of them had become sick after the caning, said the parents.
The parents claimed that their children could not sleep properly for days after the caning because of the constant pain due to wounds to the skin inflicted by the cane.
The victims' parents want the Education Department to take appropriate disciplinary action against the teacher concerned, and to ensure that such aggressive behaviour was not repeated.
SMK Long Lama has about 500 students, most of whom from deep interior settlements.
Three days ago, more than 200 students from a school in Sibu were forced to squat in a fish pond for more than an hour.
These girls were punished because a warden found toilet bowls littered with sanitary pads, it was alleged.
MIRI: Seven 13-year old students from SMK Long Lama have lodged police reports claiming that they had suffered injuries to their backs and buttocks because of repeated canings by their teacher.
The Form One students are from the remote school located more than 300km inland from Miri, in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak.
They have also lodged complaints at the Miri Education Department following the incident that they alleged took place on Thursday night at their school's hostel.
The parents of the students came down to Miri over the weekend to seek advice from the authorities here after lodging the police reports at the Long Lama police station.
In their reports, they claimed that a male teacher had caned their children between 10 and 20 times each after he had found the hostel in a mess, with rubbish strewn around.
The students suffered physical and mental anguish because of the incident, and some of them had become sick after the caning, said the parents.
The parents claimed that their children could not sleep properly for days after the caning because of the constant pain due to wounds to the skin inflicted by the cane.
The victims' parents want the Education Department to take appropriate disciplinary action against the teacher concerned, and to ensure that such aggressive behaviour was not repeated.
SMK Long Lama has about 500 students, most of whom from deep interior settlements.
Three days ago, more than 200 students from a school in Sibu were forced to squat in a fish pond for more than an hour.
These girls were punished because a warden found toilet bowls littered with sanitary pads, it was alleged.
Monday, 23 July 2007
2007 07: Ministry to investigate slapping allegation
The Star Online. News. Nation. Friday July 20, 2007
RANAU: The Education Ministry will investigate an incident where a headmistress allegedly slapped 22 pupils of a primary school for failing to turn in their homework in Tuaran here on Wednesday.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said his ministry will not compromise on issues of teachers involved in any wrongful methods to discipline students.
“This is a serious matter as it involves the discipline of teachers,” he said when commenting on news reports that a headmistress slapped the Year 4 pupils - 13 girls and 9 boys- for allegedly not turning in their civics homework on Wednesday.
The students, through the Parent Teacher Association of the school, lodged a police report with the Tuaran police on Friday.
“On matters of discipline involving teachers, we have set up a committee headed by my deputy minister Datuk Noh Omar who will look into such matters of discipline,” Hishammuddin told reporters after opening the Ranau Umno division meeting.
He said if necessary Noh Omar will come down to Sabah to investigate the allegations made by the pupils through the PTA.
“However, my advice is, it is better to get the views of both sides before any decision is made,” he added.
........................................
Teachers must conform to guidelines on punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Friday July 20, 2007
I READ the articles and letters commenting on the incident of the teacher who punched a girl because she uttered a vulgar word in class and found some of the comments interesting but others out of focus. There are two separate issues here.
The first is whether the punishment that was carried out by the teacher was excessive. On this, I must say that any form of physical punishment inflicted on a female student is wrong. The rules are very clear when it comes to punishing female students. They cannot even be caned.
Under no circumstances can a teacher be condoned when he or she breaks this fundamental rule and the Deputy Minister of Education is correct in announcing his suspension pending the police investigation. To excuse him by claiming he was provoked is inappropriate.
The second issue is the profanity used by the girl which resulted in the uncalled-for violence on the part of the teacher.
Such utterances are common among students in general. Any teacher who has been teaching for a short time would have heard such vulgar words often enough to be able to react normally to them.
I wish we have the means to suppress the use of profanity but when a child is exposed to such words by their parents and adults in general, how much can we do in schools?
We are fortunate that in Malaysia, our censorship is so stringent that it cuts off all spoken profanity, yet the effect is not as desired as our people still use them! We have to punish her, but in the appropriate way!
Therefore, I hope that we do not excuse wrong kinds of punishment imposed by teachers just because a student did something wrong. Appropriate and punitive punishment must be meted out by the Education Ministry to let teachers know that they must conform to the guidelines on punishment, if not our children will become punching bags for teachers.
A board must be set up to examine teachers involved in violence so that they can be given proper treatment or sacked if they are unable to manage their anger
......................................................
School head suspended for allegedly slapping 22 pupils
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday July 23, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: A primary school principal here was suspended with full pay for two months following complaints that she slapped 22 Year Four pupils for failing to turn in their homework.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the suspension of the SK Gayang headmistress in Tuaran was to facilitate a probe into the July 18 incident.
“The Education Department will investigate before deciding whether any further action would be taken,” he said after opening a national convention of school principals on Sunday.
The pupils – 13 girls and nine boys – claimed that the principal slapped them for failing to submit their homework for the Civics subject.
The pupils, through the school’s parent teacher association (PTA), lodged a police report last Friday.
Mohd Noh said the investigation by the Tuaran Education Department would include reviewing the headmistress’ service record to ascertain if she was involved in other cases.
He said the pupils would have to attend motivational talks while their parents would be asked to go for parenting talks.
On the incident where 200 girl boarders of SMK Bawang Assan in Sibu, Sarawak were made to squat in a pond, Noh said he had yet to receive a report on the matter.
In Kota Baru, state PAS secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan defended the action of the school's warden, Wee Yim Pien.
He said Wee made the right decision as it was a deterrent punishment to ensure the students did not litter anymore.
He said the public should not feel offended as the punishment was supposed to fit the crime or offence.
Earlier, Noh reminded principals that any disciplinary action against students must be in accordance with existing regulations.
“Our rules do not allow students to be abused in any way. Teachers are not allowed to make their students sit in ponds. This is not the right way,” he said.
RANAU: The Education Ministry will investigate an incident where a headmistress allegedly slapped 22 pupils of a primary school for failing to turn in their homework in Tuaran here on Wednesday.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said his ministry will not compromise on issues of teachers involved in any wrongful methods to discipline students.
“This is a serious matter as it involves the discipline of teachers,” he said when commenting on news reports that a headmistress slapped the Year 4 pupils - 13 girls and 9 boys- for allegedly not turning in their civics homework on Wednesday.
The students, through the Parent Teacher Association of the school, lodged a police report with the Tuaran police on Friday.
“On matters of discipline involving teachers, we have set up a committee headed by my deputy minister Datuk Noh Omar who will look into such matters of discipline,” Hishammuddin told reporters after opening the Ranau Umno division meeting.
He said if necessary Noh Omar will come down to Sabah to investigate the allegations made by the pupils through the PTA.
“However, my advice is, it is better to get the views of both sides before any decision is made,” he added.
........................................
Teachers must conform to guidelines on punishment
The Star Online. Opinion. Friday July 20, 2007
I READ the articles and letters commenting on the incident of the teacher who punched a girl because she uttered a vulgar word in class and found some of the comments interesting but others out of focus. There are two separate issues here.
The first is whether the punishment that was carried out by the teacher was excessive. On this, I must say that any form of physical punishment inflicted on a female student is wrong. The rules are very clear when it comes to punishing female students. They cannot even be caned.
Under no circumstances can a teacher be condoned when he or she breaks this fundamental rule and the Deputy Minister of Education is correct in announcing his suspension pending the police investigation. To excuse him by claiming he was provoked is inappropriate.
The second issue is the profanity used by the girl which resulted in the uncalled-for violence on the part of the teacher.
Such utterances are common among students in general. Any teacher who has been teaching for a short time would have heard such vulgar words often enough to be able to react normally to them.
I wish we have the means to suppress the use of profanity but when a child is exposed to such words by their parents and adults in general, how much can we do in schools?
We are fortunate that in Malaysia, our censorship is so stringent that it cuts off all spoken profanity, yet the effect is not as desired as our people still use them! We have to punish her, but in the appropriate way!
Therefore, I hope that we do not excuse wrong kinds of punishment imposed by teachers just because a student did something wrong. Appropriate and punitive punishment must be meted out by the Education Ministry to let teachers know that they must conform to the guidelines on punishment, if not our children will become punching bags for teachers.
A board must be set up to examine teachers involved in violence so that they can be given proper treatment or sacked if they are unable to manage their anger
......................................................
School head suspended for allegedly slapping 22 pupils
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday July 23, 2007
KOTA KINABALU: A primary school principal here was suspended with full pay for two months following complaints that she slapped 22 Year Four pupils for failing to turn in their homework.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the suspension of the SK Gayang headmistress in Tuaran was to facilitate a probe into the July 18 incident.
“The Education Department will investigate before deciding whether any further action would be taken,” he said after opening a national convention of school principals on Sunday.
The pupils – 13 girls and nine boys – claimed that the principal slapped them for failing to submit their homework for the Civics subject.
The pupils, through the school’s parent teacher association (PTA), lodged a police report last Friday.
Mohd Noh said the investigation by the Tuaran Education Department would include reviewing the headmistress’ service record to ascertain if she was involved in other cases.
He said the pupils would have to attend motivational talks while their parents would be asked to go for parenting talks.
On the incident where 200 girl boarders of SMK Bawang Assan in Sibu, Sarawak were made to squat in a pond, Noh said he had yet to receive a report on the matter.
In Kota Baru, state PAS secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan defended the action of the school's warden, Wee Yim Pien.
He said Wee made the right decision as it was a deterrent punishment to ensure the students did not litter anymore.
He said the public should not feel offended as the punishment was supposed to fit the crime or offence.
Earlier, Noh reminded principals that any disciplinary action against students must be in accordance with existing regulations.
“Our rules do not allow students to be abused in any way. Teachers are not allowed to make their students sit in ponds. This is not the right way,” he said.
Friday, 20 July 2007
2007 07: 10 students beat me up, says MCKK boy
The Star Online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 17, 2007
KUALA KANGSAR: A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar here has alleged that he was beaten up by 10 schoolmates at their hostel on Sunday.
The victim, a Form Four student, was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital following the 2.30pm incident.
His father Mej (R) Ahmad Mohd Kassim said: “They not only kicked and punched my son but also used a plastic broom to scrub my son’s back.”
He said he rushed here from Kedah after being informed by a teacher.
He said his son told him that the students decided to “teach him a lesson” for breaking a hostel regulation.
“My son admitted that he had gone out of the hostel to eat laksa in town.
Kuala Kangsar OCPD Supt Zakaria Pagan could not be reached for comment.
KUALA KANGSAR: A student of the Malay College Kuala Kangsar here has alleged that he was beaten up by 10 schoolmates at their hostel on Sunday.
The victim, a Form Four student, was given outpatient treatment at the Kuala Kangsar Hospital following the 2.30pm incident.
His father Mej (R) Ahmad Mohd Kassim said: “They not only kicked and punched my son but also used a plastic broom to scrub my son’s back.”
He said he rushed here from Kedah after being informed by a teacher.
He said his son told him that the students decided to “teach him a lesson” for breaking a hostel regulation.
“My son admitted that he had gone out of the hostel to eat laksa in town.
Kuala Kangsar OCPD Supt Zakaria Pagan could not be reached for comment.
2007 07: Doing away with the cane
The Star Online. Opinion. Sunday July 15, 2007
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is proposing to abolish the cane, which has long been the tool of old-school disciplinarians and in the punishment of convicted child offenders.
AS kids, many of us have had our bums whacked! One doting grandfather recalled that when the teacher caned him and he sought compassion from his mother, she too would pick up the rotan, or a piece of firewood, and add to his lashes — no questions asked.
“I was a bit of a rascal in my (all-boys) school, and we did harmless mischief like throwing chalk at each other,” he admitted. By the time he was midway through primary school, he just bore his welts in philosophical silence.
“But I am none the worse for it,” he added. Tellingly, he never laid a hand on his own children.
Another person brought up by the cane is herself today a teacher.
“I don't resent my own mother caning me because I was remorseful about whatever naughty thing I had done. But I did resent it when my religious teacher slapped me on the face for daydreaming,” she said.
The days when parents brought their children to the teacher, presented him with a light rotan (cane) and urged “Cikgu, buatlah macam anak sendiri (treat him as you would your own child),” are long gone.
Among teachers who strictly uphold this role of mentor and have not hesitated to wield the stick, the ball rebounds swiftly with furious parents rushing to the headmaster complaining against Encik Farid and Cikgu Faridah.
Now, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is proposing to abolish the cane. A signatory to the (United Nations) International Convention on Children's Rights (CRC) since 1995, Malaysia wants to give life to mere words. If passed, it means that the Court For Children will no longer have caning as an option for child offenders.
Under the present Child Act 2001, only boys between the ages of 10 and 18 may be subjected to corporal punishment. And there are clear guidelines:
a maximum of 10 strokes with a light rotan;
the boy must be clothed;
whipping must not be inflicted on the face, head, stomach, chest and private parts;
the person meting out the punishment must not raise his hand over his head;
if a doctor deems the boy no longer fit to be whipped, the caning must stop; Caning, a negative reinforcement, has lost its popularity among many who have interacted first-hand with children today.
They prefer the non-punitive approach, focussing on positive reinforcement of good behaviour such as praise, love, tokens for younger children, recognition, rewards and treats, said Director of the Institut Sosial Malaysia, Associate Professor Dr Mohamed Fadzil Che Din.
Even positive discrimination like taking away an hour of television, or cutting back on pocket money, or negative discrimination such as standing on a chair or the “submarine” (where the child has to sit under the table), which I went through, are preferred, he said.
A trained psychologist and a lecturer in psychological counselling for 10 years with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Dr Mohamed Fadzil has worked with non-governmental organisations, adolescents and schools and today continues to advise adults and children alike.
“How a child sees himself will determine whether he is self-confident or anxious,” said Dr Mohamed Fadzil.
“Caning may bring about a negative self-concept, where he grows up in fear, panicking easily. This tendency follows into adulthood. If as children they are afraid to try, as adults they are not independent, not industrious.”
This makes them a manpower liability. After having spent millions on educating them as children, to then have to pour millions more to make them creative adults is a drain on the nation's coffers, he pointed out.
“One of the side-effects of caning is hatred, revenge, rebellion,” he added.
“In an aggressive personality, in its extreme form, we get terrorists.
“But passive personalities internalise the aggression. They become runaways, or in extreme cases, commit suicide.”
More to the point, corporal punishment, even for adults, has not been proven to be psychologically effective in character development. Depending on the individual, some who survive the school of hard-knocks may in fact become hardened by the experience.
The trend for adults, but even more so for children, has shifted to community service.
A legal practitioner admitted that he had been a naughty lad. One day, angry with his elderly neighbour, he lit a matchstick and threw it at his neighbour's roof. His mother roundly scolded him, not least because their adjoining roofs meant he could easily have burnt his own house down.
But it was his neighbour's forgiving generosity that was the turning point. His punishment? To tend to the neighbour's flowers and plants.
The real authority who may cane a child are his parents. But here too there are pitfalls.
Neighbours might hear the child regularly crying out, see the welts on his arms and leg, and complain to a welfare officer or even the police of child abuse. But what is the alternative? Spare the rod and spoil the child?
Judging by reports, caning is more frequently conducted in schools, where it falls under the ambit of the Child Act.
Ideally and theoretically it is the punishment of last resort.
In urban schools, teachers concur and parents concede that children are spoilt, especially in dual-income families. Parents admit to wanting so desperately to give their kids a better childhood than theirs: sushi snacks, maids, mobile phones, branded shoes and Disneyland school holidays.
The proposal to withdraw the cane should be seen in the context of another proposed amendment to the Child Act 2001 made just last year — to punish parents for errant children.
That proposal from the police received the support of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
At present, Section 33 of the Act metes out a fine of up to RM5,000, a two-year jail sentence or both for failure to properly supervise a child under their care.
But is it fair to blame parents for errant children?
For most of their primary years, children mirror their parents. Aggressive parents beget school bullies while offspring of reticent parents become their victims.
But caning also begets a chain reaction.
“Studies have shown that many criminals and convicts either came from troubled families or had suffered corporal punishment as children,” said Dr Mohamed Fadzil.
By setting the age of criminal responsibility at 10, the Act recognises that individual characteristics set in around that age and thereafter. Somewhere after 11, parents start “losing” their adolescents. Instead it is their peers who have the greatest influence on teenagers.
This age of criminal responsibility differs from country to country, reflecting the societies in which they operate. In Hong Kong it is 10, while mainland China, Taiwan and the United Kingdom set it at 14; France has lowered it from 15 to 13; Greece and Netherlands to 12.
The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is proposing to abolish the cane, which has long been the tool of old-school disciplinarians and in the punishment of convicted child offenders.
AS kids, many of us have had our bums whacked! One doting grandfather recalled that when the teacher caned him and he sought compassion from his mother, she too would pick up the rotan, or a piece of firewood, and add to his lashes — no questions asked.
“I was a bit of a rascal in my (all-boys) school, and we did harmless mischief like throwing chalk at each other,” he admitted. By the time he was midway through primary school, he just bore his welts in philosophical silence.
“But I am none the worse for it,” he added. Tellingly, he never laid a hand on his own children.
Another person brought up by the cane is herself today a teacher.
“I don't resent my own mother caning me because I was remorseful about whatever naughty thing I had done. But I did resent it when my religious teacher slapped me on the face for daydreaming,” she said.
The days when parents brought their children to the teacher, presented him with a light rotan (cane) and urged “Cikgu, buatlah macam anak sendiri (treat him as you would your own child),” are long gone.
Among teachers who strictly uphold this role of mentor and have not hesitated to wield the stick, the ball rebounds swiftly with furious parents rushing to the headmaster complaining against Encik Farid and Cikgu Faridah.
Now, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is proposing to abolish the cane. A signatory to the (United Nations) International Convention on Children's Rights (CRC) since 1995, Malaysia wants to give life to mere words. If passed, it means that the Court For Children will no longer have caning as an option for child offenders.
Under the present Child Act 2001, only boys between the ages of 10 and 18 may be subjected to corporal punishment. And there are clear guidelines:
a maximum of 10 strokes with a light rotan;
the boy must be clothed;
whipping must not be inflicted on the face, head, stomach, chest and private parts;
the person meting out the punishment must not raise his hand over his head;
if a doctor deems the boy no longer fit to be whipped, the caning must stop; Caning, a negative reinforcement, has lost its popularity among many who have interacted first-hand with children today.
They prefer the non-punitive approach, focussing on positive reinforcement of good behaviour such as praise, love, tokens for younger children, recognition, rewards and treats, said Director of the Institut Sosial Malaysia, Associate Professor Dr Mohamed Fadzil Che Din.
Even positive discrimination like taking away an hour of television, or cutting back on pocket money, or negative discrimination such as standing on a chair or the “submarine” (where the child has to sit under the table), which I went through, are preferred, he said.
A trained psychologist and a lecturer in psychological counselling for 10 years with Universiti Putra Malaysia, Dr Mohamed Fadzil has worked with non-governmental organisations, adolescents and schools and today continues to advise adults and children alike.
“How a child sees himself will determine whether he is self-confident or anxious,” said Dr Mohamed Fadzil.
“Caning may bring about a negative self-concept, where he grows up in fear, panicking easily. This tendency follows into adulthood. If as children they are afraid to try, as adults they are not independent, not industrious.”
This makes them a manpower liability. After having spent millions on educating them as children, to then have to pour millions more to make them creative adults is a drain on the nation's coffers, he pointed out.
“One of the side-effects of caning is hatred, revenge, rebellion,” he added.
“In an aggressive personality, in its extreme form, we get terrorists.
“But passive personalities internalise the aggression. They become runaways, or in extreme cases, commit suicide.”
More to the point, corporal punishment, even for adults, has not been proven to be psychologically effective in character development. Depending on the individual, some who survive the school of hard-knocks may in fact become hardened by the experience.
The trend for adults, but even more so for children, has shifted to community service.
A legal practitioner admitted that he had been a naughty lad. One day, angry with his elderly neighbour, he lit a matchstick and threw it at his neighbour's roof. His mother roundly scolded him, not least because their adjoining roofs meant he could easily have burnt his own house down.
But it was his neighbour's forgiving generosity that was the turning point. His punishment? To tend to the neighbour's flowers and plants.
The real authority who may cane a child are his parents. But here too there are pitfalls.
Neighbours might hear the child regularly crying out, see the welts on his arms and leg, and complain to a welfare officer or even the police of child abuse. But what is the alternative? Spare the rod and spoil the child?
Judging by reports, caning is more frequently conducted in schools, where it falls under the ambit of the Child Act.
Ideally and theoretically it is the punishment of last resort.
In urban schools, teachers concur and parents concede that children are spoilt, especially in dual-income families. Parents admit to wanting so desperately to give their kids a better childhood than theirs: sushi snacks, maids, mobile phones, branded shoes and Disneyland school holidays.
The proposal to withdraw the cane should be seen in the context of another proposed amendment to the Child Act 2001 made just last year — to punish parents for errant children.
That proposal from the police received the support of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
At present, Section 33 of the Act metes out a fine of up to RM5,000, a two-year jail sentence or both for failure to properly supervise a child under their care.
But is it fair to blame parents for errant children?
For most of their primary years, children mirror their parents. Aggressive parents beget school bullies while offspring of reticent parents become their victims.
But caning also begets a chain reaction.
“Studies have shown that many criminals and convicts either came from troubled families or had suffered corporal punishment as children,” said Dr Mohamed Fadzil.
By setting the age of criminal responsibility at 10, the Act recognises that individual characteristics set in around that age and thereafter. Somewhere after 11, parents start “losing” their adolescents. Instead it is their peers who have the greatest influence on teenagers.
This age of criminal responsibility differs from country to country, reflecting the societies in which they operate. In Hong Kong it is 10, while mainland China, Taiwan and the United Kingdom set it at 14; France has lowered it from 15 to 13; Greece and Netherlands to 12.
2007 07: 15 expelled from MRSM for beating up students
The Star Online. News. Nation. Saturday July 14, 2007
JOHOR BARU: Fifteen Form Three students of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Negri Sembilan have been expelled for beating up 10 Form Two students.
Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such disciplinary offences would not be tolerated.
“MRSM is an institution to develop students who are successful in their studies as well as in behaviour and character.
“We are not going to compromise on any student involved in group beatings,” he said.
On June 17, the 15 Form Three students beat up the Form Two students in MRSM Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan between 2am and 4am.
The expulsion letters were issued on Thursday after a full investigation into the matter was completed.
Khaled said such stern action was needed especially as there were cases where problematic students continued the same offences after being transferred.
“We even have reports where the victims themselves transferred because the issue was not addressed accordingly,” he told a press conference after the Umno Pasir Gudang division meeting on Saturday.
“We are currently investigating other similar incidents and we will not hesitate to take stern action against the culprits,” he added.
.....................................................................
Have Plan B for expelled students, says Lam Thye
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday July 16, 2007
MALACCA: The Government should provide an alternative path for expelled students to stop them from becoming misfits in society, said Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Lee said yesterday while he understood the need for expulsion in certain cases, the MCPF was concerned as to where the affected students would go.
He suggested sending them to reform schools for rehabilitation.
Lee was commenting on the expulsion of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) students for beating up 10 Form Two students.
Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such offences would not be tolerated because “MRSM was an institution to develop students who are good in their studies, behaviour and character.”
Khaled said such stern action was needed as there were cases where problematic students continued with the same offences when transferred to other Mara colleges.
.....................................................................
Expelled students: Time to move on and focus on studies
NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07
By : W.M. RAMLI, Ulu Klang, Selangor
I REFER to the case of 15 Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students in Kuala Kelawang, Negri Sembilan, who were expelled for bullying.
The Form Three students were reported to have been involved in a two-hour hazing session on 10 Form Two juniors on June 17 ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).
Bullying or hooliganism has become the bane in schools. I think the stern action taken was appropriate.
The expelled students have only themselves to blame for involvement in such acts.
What is left now is to look at what has happened in a positive way and learn from it.
It is not the end of the world. Get back into any ordinary school and devote your time to studies towards achieving good results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Learn from your mistakes.
.....................................................................
Expelled students: A warning to others to behave
NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07
By : MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur
I SUPPORT Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s decision against allowing the 15 expelled Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students to be reinstated and to continue their studies in the residential college ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).
The students, along with their parents, have apologised to their victims and appealed to be given another chance.
The minister’s refusal serves as a warning to other students that bullying and ragging will not be tolerated.
.....................................................................
Help, not expel, the problematic students
The Star Online. Opinion. Saturday July 21, 2007
ENTREPRENEURIAL and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin has taken a firm stand not to entertain appeals from parents of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara students in Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan, who were expelled for beating up 10 other students.
According to the minister, the decision to expel them was taken after “serious consideration” and should serve as an “example and reminder” to other students to behave themselves and that bullying and ragging would not be tolerated.
His no-nonsense and uncompromising approach on matter’s concerning discipline in a residential college is understandable.
But the question is why has discipline deteriorated to the extent that the junior students have to run away for fear of being beaten?
What action has been taken by the school to deal with the problem of indiscipline? What has happened to the wardens and other personnel in charge of security and discipline?
No one will disagree that stern action has to be taken against school bullies in the interest of protecting other students.
However, what concerns people like me is the future of the 15 expelled.
The perception among the public is that expelling the “problematic” students is tantamount to transferring a serious problem from the college to the society as these students, without proper counselling or rehabilitation, could turn out to be potential gangsters or criminals.
In my opinion, the affected students should be placed in alternative schools where they can continue their studies and be counselled so that they can turn over a new leaf and continue their education, instead of just expelling them.
Statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police has shown that juvenile and student involvement in index crime has worsened.
For the first six months of this year, students’ involvement in index crime totalled 881 cases with 1,596 arrests as compared to 863 cases with 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.
We do not want to see the 15 expelled adding on to these statistics.
The police statistics are a grim reminder to us that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,
Vice-Chairman
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation.
........................................................
EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Discipline must come first
NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07
By : TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Vice-chairman Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation
THE Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation is pleased that the 15 expelled Form Three Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students from Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan, have been given the chance to study in a normal school, provided they are prepared to behave.
When the students were expelled for ragging their juniors, we were concerned they were not given an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
When asked for comment by the media, I was looking at the problem from the point of view of student delinquency and their involvement in crime and other social issues.
The fact is that if the expelled students were not given a chance to continue their studies, then they would likely end up as misfits in our society and get involved in crime.
While we understand the need for MRSM Kuala Klawang to take stern action to remove the students concerned as a lesson to other students to behave, the MRSM management should act to bolster efforts and prevent future indiscipline among students in the residential college.
Recent statistics from the police show that juvenile and student involvement in crime has increased.
For the first six months of this year, there were 881 cases, with 1,596 arrests, of students involved in crime compared with 863 cases and 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.
The statistics are a grim reminder that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.
We certainly do not want to see students from MRSM or elsewhere ending up as part of police statistics.
................................................................
EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Bullies must go
NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07
By : R.M.A., Kota Samarahan, Sarawak
Even though the punishment is viewed by some people as harsh, they should focus their attention on what the students have done to their victims.
As a person who was once bullied in secondary school, I know that the bullies can inflict long-term psychological trauma on their victims.
The victims will not feel safe and they cannot enjoy a meaningful school experience like other students, as long as the bullies are around them.
Therefore, I laud the sound action and believe the punishment is fair.
The expelled students should be thankful for being given a second chance to finish studies at another school.
JOHOR BARU: Fifteen Form Three students of Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) in Negri Sembilan have been expelled for beating up 10 Form Two students.
Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such disciplinary offences would not be tolerated.
“MRSM is an institution to develop students who are successful in their studies as well as in behaviour and character.
“We are not going to compromise on any student involved in group beatings,” he said.
On June 17, the 15 Form Three students beat up the Form Two students in MRSM Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan between 2am and 4am.
The expulsion letters were issued on Thursday after a full investigation into the matter was completed.
Khaled said such stern action was needed especially as there were cases where problematic students continued the same offences after being transferred.
“We even have reports where the victims themselves transferred because the issue was not addressed accordingly,” he told a press conference after the Umno Pasir Gudang division meeting on Saturday.
“We are currently investigating other similar incidents and we will not hesitate to take stern action against the culprits,” he added.
.....................................................................
Have Plan B for expelled students, says Lam Thye
The Star Online. News. Nation. Monday July 16, 2007
MALACCA: The Government should provide an alternative path for expelled students to stop them from becoming misfits in society, said Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Lee said yesterday while he understood the need for expulsion in certain cases, the MCPF was concerned as to where the affected students would go.
He suggested sending them to reform schools for rehabilitation.
Lee was commenting on the expulsion of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) students for beating up 10 Form Two students.
Entrepreneurial and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said such offences would not be tolerated because “MRSM was an institution to develop students who are good in their studies, behaviour and character.”
Khaled said such stern action was needed as there were cases where problematic students continued with the same offences when transferred to other Mara colleges.
.....................................................................
Expelled students: Time to move on and focus on studies
NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07
By : W.M. RAMLI, Ulu Klang, Selangor
I REFER to the case of 15 Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students in Kuala Kelawang, Negri Sembilan, who were expelled for bullying.
The Form Three students were reported to have been involved in a two-hour hazing session on 10 Form Two juniors on June 17 ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).
Bullying or hooliganism has become the bane in schools. I think the stern action taken was appropriate.
The expelled students have only themselves to blame for involvement in such acts.
What is left now is to look at what has happened in a positive way and learn from it.
It is not the end of the world. Get back into any ordinary school and devote your time to studies towards achieving good results in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). Learn from your mistakes.
.....................................................................
Expelled students: A warning to others to behave
NST Online. Letters. 19/7/07
By : MOHD FAIZAL ABDULLAH, Kuala Lumpur
I SUPPORT Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin’s decision against allowing the 15 expelled Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students to be reinstated and to continue their studies in the residential college ("No way back for college bullies" — NST, July 17).
The students, along with their parents, have apologised to their victims and appealed to be given another chance.
The minister’s refusal serves as a warning to other students that bullying and ragging will not be tolerated.
.....................................................................
Help, not expel, the problematic students
The Star Online. Opinion. Saturday July 21, 2007
ENTREPRENEURIAL and Cooperative Development Minister Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin has taken a firm stand not to entertain appeals from parents of 15 Maktab Rendah Sains Mara students in Kuala Klawang, Negeri Sembilan, who were expelled for beating up 10 other students.
According to the minister, the decision to expel them was taken after “serious consideration” and should serve as an “example and reminder” to other students to behave themselves and that bullying and ragging would not be tolerated.
His no-nonsense and uncompromising approach on matter’s concerning discipline in a residential college is understandable.
But the question is why has discipline deteriorated to the extent that the junior students have to run away for fear of being beaten?
What action has been taken by the school to deal with the problem of indiscipline? What has happened to the wardens and other personnel in charge of security and discipline?
No one will disagree that stern action has to be taken against school bullies in the interest of protecting other students.
However, what concerns people like me is the future of the 15 expelled.
The perception among the public is that expelling the “problematic” students is tantamount to transferring a serious problem from the college to the society as these students, without proper counselling or rehabilitation, could turn out to be potential gangsters or criminals.
In my opinion, the affected students should be placed in alternative schools where they can continue their studies and be counselled so that they can turn over a new leaf and continue their education, instead of just expelling them.
Statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police has shown that juvenile and student involvement in index crime has worsened.
For the first six months of this year, students’ involvement in index crime totalled 881 cases with 1,596 arrests as compared to 863 cases with 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.
We do not want to see the 15 expelled adding on to these statistics.
The police statistics are a grim reminder to us that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE,
Vice-Chairman
Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation.
........................................................
EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Discipline must come first
NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07
By : TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE, Vice-chairman Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation
THE Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation is pleased that the 15 expelled Form Three Mara Junior Science College (MRSM) students from Kuala Klawang, Negri Sembilan, have been given the chance to study in a normal school, provided they are prepared to behave.
When the students were expelled for ragging their juniors, we were concerned they were not given an opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
When asked for comment by the media, I was looking at the problem from the point of view of student delinquency and their involvement in crime and other social issues.
The fact is that if the expelled students were not given a chance to continue their studies, then they would likely end up as misfits in our society and get involved in crime.
While we understand the need for MRSM Kuala Klawang to take stern action to remove the students concerned as a lesson to other students to behave, the MRSM management should act to bolster efforts and prevent future indiscipline among students in the residential college.
Recent statistics from the police show that juvenile and student involvement in crime has increased.
For the first six months of this year, there were 881 cases, with 1,596 arrests, of students involved in crime compared with 863 cases and 1,467 arrests for the same period last year.
The statistics are a grim reminder that juveniles and students can be potential criminals if matters concerning discipline in schools and colleges are not addressed effectively.
We certainly do not want to see students from MRSM or elsewhere ending up as part of police statistics.
................................................................
EXPELLED MARA STUDENTS: Bullies must go
NST Onlines. Letters. 23/7/07
By : R.M.A., Kota Samarahan, Sarawak
Even though the punishment is viewed by some people as harsh, they should focus their attention on what the students have done to their victims.
As a person who was once bullied in secondary school, I know that the bullies can inflict long-term psychological trauma on their victims.
The victims will not feel safe and they cannot enjoy a meaningful school experience like other students, as long as the bullies are around them.
Therefore, I laud the sound action and believe the punishment is fair.
The expelled students should be thankful for being given a second chance to finish studies at another school.
Monday, 11 June 2007
2007 06: Panel to handle discipline
The Star online. News. Nation. Tuesday June 5, 2007
IPOH: Any punishment to be meted out to students will have to go through a special committee in each school.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the committee, to be set up in each school, would consist of teachers and PTA members.
“We hope to set up the committee by this year as the ministry is fine-tuning the ordinance pertaining to disciplining students,” he said.
At present, only school principals have the power to mete out punishment to students.
Speaking to reporters after opening a course for district education officers here yesterday, Noh said the committee was needed as sometimes students dared not speak in front of teachers.
“With the committee, it will ensure fairness when meting out punishment,” he added.
On reports of teachers being too harsh when disciplining students, Noh attributed this to teachers being unaware of regulations and procedures on the matter.
“If teachers were to mete out punishment appropriate to the type of wrongs committed by students, the problem of indiscipline can be better managed,” he added.
“We want to educate students and there are many ways of doing it.”
Noh also said that PTA meetings must include discipline in school on the agenda.
“We do not want the meetings to just discuss academic matters.
“They should also discuss how to solve disciplinary problems as everyone has to be involved in combating indiscipline in school,” he added.
IPOH: Any punishment to be meted out to students will have to go through a special committee in each school.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Noh Omar said the committee, to be set up in each school, would consist of teachers and PTA members.
“We hope to set up the committee by this year as the ministry is fine-tuning the ordinance pertaining to disciplining students,” he said.
At present, only school principals have the power to mete out punishment to students.
Speaking to reporters after opening a course for district education officers here yesterday, Noh said the committee was needed as sometimes students dared not speak in front of teachers.
“With the committee, it will ensure fairness when meting out punishment,” he added.
On reports of teachers being too harsh when disciplining students, Noh attributed this to teachers being unaware of regulations and procedures on the matter.
“If teachers were to mete out punishment appropriate to the type of wrongs committed by students, the problem of indiscipline can be better managed,” he added.
“We want to educate students and there are many ways of doing it.”
Noh also said that PTA meetings must include discipline in school on the agenda.
“We do not want the meetings to just discuss academic matters.
“They should also discuss how to solve disciplinary problems as everyone has to be involved in combating indiscipline in school,” he added.
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