Teachers on a pedestal
Does a teacher have to have higher moral standards than the average person and act as a role model for students?
I would say yes. If we look at what a teacher does, we will find a high level of moral responsibility. Teachers do not simply cook a meal or drive a bus. They teach the future pillars of society.
If a teacher loses the moral high ground, it has an effect on students. Students are young and easily influenced, so they easily follow someone's behaviour. A teacher is the first person they tend to imitate. If a teacher smokes, students will think it's okay to smoke.
I believe teachers should have higher moral standards because they are not just passing on knowledge from textbooks. But I would not expect teachers to act as a role model. What is a role model anyway, a faultless saint?
No one can be perfect, so even if teachers have higher standards, they might do wrong sometimes.
Katie Suen Ka-yee, King Ling College
From the Editor
Thank you, Katie, for your thought provoking letter. It is always interesting when people attach a moral code to employment.
What is acceptable in one society may be unacceptable in another, so in essence you are asking teachers to come from the same society as the students they teach. Given today's global village, where people migrate to work in different countries, it is quite likely that certain teachers' behaviour might not be the behaviour expected by society.
Also, the issue of privacy and human rights comes into play. Is what a teacher does during their spare time any business of the school?
The furore surrounding teacher Fan Meizhong , who abandoned his students during the earthquake, illustrates this very well. It is a natural human instinct to want to save your own life. Yet he was an adult among the children, and one who was supposed to care for their well-being.
Where do we draw the line? I would be really interested to hear what other readers have to say on this topic.
Susan, Editor
