Opinion | Erosion in Teacher-Student Relationship

These days,not a day goes by without a video surfacing that shows teachers misbehaving,using rude language and so on.Some teachers have even turned this into a style of teaching and unfortunately,it has become a trend.It’s disheartening that we are promoting such behavior.The blame doesn’t lie solely with the teachers,students are equally at fault.Both parties have together erased the gap between teacher and student,creating a bridge where the respect from the teacher and the deference from the student are both lacking.Recently,I watched a video where a teacher was hurling abuses at a student and it left me deeply saddened.I thought,if the producers are like this,the products will inevitably be worse.It seems that teachers have forgotten the ethics of teaching and students have forgotten the ethics of learning.

In the old teacher-student relationship,the best aspect was the gap between them and the positive fear of the teacher.I am not promoting that practice either,as it had its flaws,particularly because it created a situation where students couldn’t fully express themselves or interact freely with the teacher.However,at least there was a respectful distance between teacher and student,which is something we see less of today.The gap is diminishing due to cultural shifts towards informality,the influence of social media and modern collaborative teaching methods.I have personally witnessed teachers and students joking with each other in ways that cross the boundaries of their relationship.Teachers often share stories in class that overstep these boundaries and become overly familiar with the students.

I repeatedly mention the gap and the bridge because these are the two key elements that both cause such videos and provide the solution.We are all responsible for eliminating this gap.It is shameful that there are affairs between teachers and students.Recently,we saw a case where a principal,aged around 50-55 and married,was involved in an affair with a 22-year-old student.This case came to light only because of a call recording.It terrifies me to think about how many similar cases might exist in our society that haven’t been exposed.I have personally observed these incidents in colleges and universities.Nowadays,even marriages between teachers and students occur in our society.We have created a bridge in the teacher-student relationship that is fundamentally weak,yet it doesn’t collapse because such cases and incidents are increasing day by day.This trend is disastrous for our society,education and future.

The erosion of respect in teacher-student relationships has led to troubling trends and misconduct.To combat the inappropriate behavior and relationships that have emerged,implementing strict codes of conduct and fostering an environment that emphasizes mutual respect and professional ethics are essential steps to mitigate these issues.Some potential solutions are:

1. Reinforce professional boundaries.

2. Promote ethical teaching practices.

3. Enhance communication and support.

4. Foster a respectful learning environment.

5. Strengthen teacher training programs.

6. Encourage parental and community involvement.

7. Implement accountability measures.

By combining these approaches,we can prevent further deterioration of our educational system and societal values.We can work towards restoring respect and professionalism in teacher-student relationships, thereby creating a healthier and more effective educational environment.

DANISH AISHA IS THE CONVENOR OF THE CENTRE FOR PUBLIC INTEREST (CPI), A KASHMIR-BASED INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTISAN THINK TANK WORKING ON GOVERNANCE, POLICY REFORMS, AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT THROUGH RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY. HE CAN BE REACHED AT MIRDANISH1717@GMAIL.COM