What about teachers facing ‘complaints’ for disciplining students?

MANILA, Philippines — Two groups advancing the welfare of public school teachers said the law should extend more protection to educators who face “unjustified complaints” for just performing their duty to impose discipline on students.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines and the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) called on Congress to act on a bill providing for legal assistance and other forms of support for teachers in such a predicament.

“At a time where there are increasing cases of children involved in violence, we are prepared to be of assistance to parents, communities, and the government in guiding the youth, but we also need sufficient and concrete support and protection,” ACT chair Ruby Bernardo said.

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In a statement on Tuesday, Bernardo said teachers nowadays are increasingly facing complaints from students or their families for instilling classroom discipline.

“It is our responsibility and duty as teachers to shape our youth into humane and patriotic beings, but we are limited by the burden that our way of imparting discipline and guidance to students will be put in a precarious situation,” Bernardo said.

‘Set up to fail’

With ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio as principal author, House Bill No. 56, or the draft Teacher’s Protection Act, also calls for the formulation of a student manual per school defining the appropriate student behavior toward other students, teachers, and school staff.

“When a teacher is placed in an environment where discipline is necessary, but the means of enforcing it are unclear, the system is effectively setting the teacher up to fail,” TDC said in a statement issued on Monday.

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“We want to make it clear that any form of abuse or misconduct by a teacher must never be tolerated. At the same time, teachers must also be protected as they carry out their duties,” it added.

The bill should not be limited to protecting teachers from baseless complaints but also set clear procedures for addressing allegations, ensure due process, and provide them with legal and psychosocial support, TDC said. —REPORTS FROM ANDREA GREGORIO, AND SHERIDAN DELFINO