New Delhi: Police and news reports say that an 11-year-old school girl has died in a hospital in the Indian capital after she was allegedly beaten by her teacher for failing to answer some questions.
The Press Trust of India news agency says Shannoo Khan was also asked by her teacher to stand outside in the blazing sun with bricks on her shoulders.
The report says she fainted as she could not bear the heat. It said she was hospitalised after she slipped into coma on Wednesday. She died on Friday.
Police spokesman Rajan Bhagat says a case has been registered against the teacher for causing death by a rash act. She can be jailed for up to two years if convicted.
What is your view on corporal punishment? Do you think law enforcement is not strict enough when it comes to extreme punishments given at school? How can teaching methods be improved and made more effective?
Your comments
My father-in-law who was deputy director of college education always worked for his students keeping their future in mind. Teachers of today should bear in mind about the future generations and try to encourage every student and not focus on a few. If any fault is noticed, they should always speak to the parents. Schools should award teachers who inspire children in their school so that the others will follow. Treat every student as your own child and they will make you proude. You have a noble profession in your hands. Use it to embrace not to hit.
Dr Sujatha
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 14:08
I think that the teachers should be trained enough to deal with students in a much more practical way. In that case, students will have fear for good and concentrate towards studies. These punishments will make students lose the confidence while in practical life. I would reiterate that some useful programme should be developed for teachers, so that teachers can deal with different kinds of mindsets of the students effectively.
Mohammad Murtaza
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 13:27
Punishment is a necessary evil - in the sense, it is required to discipline a student. But, at first, it's the teacher's duty to know her student well - what background she comes from, what kind of mental pressures she goes through. Punishments must be reserved for only those unruly students who fail to follow a system because of mere arrogance. This type of mean punishments can't be and must not be accepted by any one. Times have changed now - students must be treated more or less like friends and see the difference what this friendly attitude brings in a child. Learning child psychology is a must for every to-be teacher!
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 13:13
How can people be so cruel. They should be severely punished
Mithun
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 12:18
If your child wouldn't answer your question would you beat him or her? No, you wouldn't. I would like to ask the teachers to consider their students as their own children and not to punish them. If they won?t learn, there are other ways to solve it instead of punishing them. They can call the child's parents and tell them or report it to the supervisor. I as a student have observed a friend in class who doesn't study or even take responsibility and complete notes. The teachers, instead of punishing her, reported her bad performance in studies to her parents and soon she started studying well as well as started taking responsibility in her studies.
Donna Maria Spencer
UAE,Sharjah
Posted: April 18, 2009, 11:49
Two years punishment is very less. Moreover, the teacher should also be fined so that others do not repeat the same. This is totally an inhuman act.
A Reader
Hyderabad,India
Posted: April 18, 2009, 10:40
Teachers should be role models. Unfortunately, these days, we don?t have such teachers. These acts are cruel. We should not force children in the sun like this. If it were her own daughter, what would she have done? Mistakes are common amongst humans, so it should be rectified by the experienced and known people. This way, their experience and knowledge will be fruitful to others.
Mahboob
KERALA- BASED IN DUBAI - UAE,INDIA
Posted: April 18, 2009, 10:16
Teachers should be medically checked for history of blood pressure, stress and personal problems.
A Reader
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 10:03
It is very shameful for a teacher who should be a role model in a child's initial stages to do such a act. The teacher should be punished and he or she should feel sorry for their actions for which the child had to pay off with her life. The school authorities are equally responsible for such acts. How is it assured that other children's life is safe.
Ram
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:46
There should be trained teachers in schools, only with positive attitude to guide the pupils, not by punishment. Such teachers should be given extreme punishment setting example to other teachers who give such harsh punishments.
S. J. Huq
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:37
The value of ones life is two years jail punishment for the convicted teacher? The punishment should be harsh. No other teacher should think about this in the future to implement such a rash act on students.
Yousuf Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:32
This kind of punishment must be stopped immediately by teachers. I remember when I was a pupil, my school teachers used to make us stand naked in the school compound in front of everybody and most of the teachers were doing same punishment even for simple mistakes we committed. I was so afraid to go to school and most of the time I did not go for several days until they send my parents a letter. My life is totally ruined by my teachers? behaviour and I was not able to complete my school too. I believe that teaching methods can only be improved by loving children, being very friendly with them and the most important thing is teachers should understand each and every single student?s feeling.
A Reader
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:26
I strongly advise that the teacher should get a severe punishment for her act against this girl. The teacher deserves it.
Kabeer Mohi Al Deen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:22
Only two years? I think what she did is wrong. The teacher should be tried and definitely should get much more than two years in jail.
Rania
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:20
Such an act against an 11-year-old is not acceptable. The teacher should be punished. If the teacher is so cruel, then what good lesson will she be able to teach to the little children. In this case, the teacher is not the loser, in fact the parents have lost their daughter and no one can fill the gap. So she should be punished severely so that no teacher in the future could repeat the same mistake.
Arshiya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:20
Law enforcement is not strict enough for extreme punishments given at school. Children go to school to gain knowledge and discipline from teachers. When a teacher behaves in such a ruthless manner with a student, the law needs to be strict enough so that similar incidents do not occur in the future. Just two years jail for such a rash punishment on a small girl is just not fair. It is the death of an innocent child and severe action is called for. The act of a single teacher leaves a black mark on the entire profession. Let not the action of one particular teacher reflect on the many teachers who are living up to their profession and are truly sincere.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:10
It?s really a shame for us. Untrained teachers are recruited.
Megh Raj Sapkota
KATHMANDU,NEPAL
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:08
This is outrageous. Such acts from school teachers as role models should be treated with utmost importance and the guilty convicted without mercy. Our children construct their basic behaviour in schools. I do strongly believe the current law is weak and needs a total revamping. Children should be allowed to raise their concern against the torture some of them face at school in a forum independent to the school. They most often choose not to discuss the same with parents due to fear. Teaching patterns followed in most schools outside India, namely the Western part of the world, are extremely encouraging. The teachers act as counselors/mentors and maintain a personal relationship with their pupil without deleting the element of discipline.
Rakhi Joseph
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 09:06
Two years imprisonment is too light a punishment for such a barbaric act.
Raju Narayanan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 08:53
Very cruel and brutal! The teacher should be punished publicly.
Laxi Bai
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 08:31
The teacher should be punished according to the law.
Mohammad Miyan
GULBARGA,INDIA
Posted: April 18, 2009, 08:30
I am a teacher also in the Philippines, but punishment like this is not allowed and before graduating to become a teacher you have to know your duties and responsibilities. Punishing your students will not help them. Besides it will be traumatising for them. Being friends with them with limitations will help you make them more inspired to their studies.
Marlen
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 08:28
I feel a teacher should be convicted for allegedly torturing the child as teachers are supposed to teach and not raise hands on a child. In fact a teacher should be a role model for a child as the child spends more hours in school. They are supposed to teach the child not torture. If this continues, children will be afraid of going to school. If the teachers behave in such a manner, parents will be afraid to send their child to an institution where they acquire their knowledge. It is very unethical behaviour.
Fatima
Sharjah,United Arab Emirates
Posted: April 18, 2009, 08:17
I believe the crucial punishment to students should be strictly banned. A minor punishment inside the class can be given to ascertain that the students can bear that according to their age. The teacher should be equally punished for the above as the parents have lost their child and that cannot be retrieved at any cost. The two year jail term is nothing when compared to the punishment given to the student followed by death.
Reni Stanley
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 07:55
This case needs to be investigated properly. If the teacher has committed such a rude act, then she must be punished severely.
Saleem
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 07:55
This punishment for the victim is absolutely unacceptable. Accused should get strict punishment.
Mohammad Mazhar Alam
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 07:25
Its not at all a good news to hear. How can a teacher be so cruel to a student? Such punishment measures are not even heard from juvenile homes.
Baiju Murathankal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 07:23
Military acts of punishment should be banned in school. I had been in a boarding school overseas and gone through this phase of punishment. It's better to understand students problem rather then implementing such methods. Light act of punishment only to particular parts of the body such as hands should be allowed.
Ahmed Alzadjali
Muscat,Oman
Posted: April 18, 2009, 06:21
I think it's very sad story. There are so many other ways to punish children. Example, time out, give extra home work, talk to parents, send for counseling. Bottom line is find out the reason and try to solve the problems without hurting a child. All schools should avoid the punishment of beating children
Ashraf Mirza
Atlanta, Georgia,USA
Posted: April 18, 2009, 05:33
We are in the 21st century now. This should never ever happen especially to a defenseless child.
Anthony
Aspen, CO,USA
Posted: April 18, 2009, 04:56
Teachers shouldn't give such kind of punishments. They should treat students as their own children.
Ebrahim
Karnataka,India
Posted: April 18, 2009, 03:35
I feel very sorry for the little child and her parents who will have to live with this trauma forever.
Syed Khan
New York,USA
Posted: April 18, 2009, 02:29
Simply an act of brutality. This is just not acceptable by any means.
Abbas Kumail
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: April 18, 2009, 01:42
