The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) is commending the teacher at the Moruga Secondary School who used his body to shield a female student while she was being attacked by other girls in a classroom.
But TTUTA President Martin Lum Kin is urging male teachers to be careful when intervening in fights involving female students.
A video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms and showed the teacher initially attempting to stop the group of girls from assaulting the student. When that proved futile, he placed his body to protect the victim from the blows she was receiving. As a result, he too was assaulted as the attackers tried desperately to inflict more harm on the student the teacher was protecting.
Lum Kin, in a telephone interview yesterday, said the teacher did a commendable act and is in good health. He sought to dispel any rumours that the educator was disciplined for his involvement.
However, Lum Kin said, “Although TTUTA commends the teacher in this instance we stand by the advice that our members should exercise a level of caution and should assess the entire situation before intervening in any fights.”
Lum Kin added that extra caution should be taken by male teachers.
“Moreso if there are female students involved then our male counterparts must be cautious when intervening in these fights as accusations of improper touching can be made against the teacher. Additionally, teachers can be accused of using excessive force when intervening.”
Lum Kin said TTUTA is confident the school would conduct the necessary investigations and while the association believes in a restorative approach, the options of suspension or even expulsion must not be ruled out.
The Education Minister could not be reached for comment yesterday.
In January, a fight between a teacher and a 16-year-old student at the same Moruga Secondary School was caught on camera and went viral.
The 53-year-old teacher was treated at hospital for injuries and the police questioned both him and the student, who was suspended.
Interventions needed
Meanwhile, TTUTA lamented what it claimed was a recent uptick in school violence.
“Over the last six months, we have witnessed a high level of student violence and indiscipline. We call on the Ministry of Education to seriously assist the school administrators in curbing this high level of violence and indiscipline.”
Lum Kin feared that the current methods of intervention are not reaching those students prone to serious levels of indiscipline.
Clinical psychologist Sarah Subhan told Guardian Media yesterday that often it is a combination of factors that lead to violent behaviour that may not be fully addressed in the programme.
She said interventions need to be culturally appropriate.
“We have an underlying violent culture in some areas as well as extreme circumstances that have socialised some children in anti-social ways. Therefore, they may not be easily reached in a short time frame. Additionally, these circumstances can result in the formation of more rigid and defensive personalities.”
Subhan said there may be a need for more training for the professionals involved and further assessments need to be done on students more prone to violence.
“In terms of their background, trauma history, family history, community culture and medical history would be helpful to understand their psycho-social profile. Sometimes there are underlying issues that go undetected. For students like these, referral for further assessment and specialised intervention is necessary for any change to occur. Sometimes there are deeper psychological and psychiatric issues.”
Subhan also underscored the need for parental involvement.
“Children need to be guided in conflict resolution and emotional regulation, if parents are able to instil these skills early on then there will be more likelihood for success.”
