Kovai school suspends teacher for pinching girl

Genesis Tynee (9), of Gandhipuram in Coimbatore, is a Class 3 student of St. Joseph Matriculation Higher Secondary School. On Wednesday morning, class teacher Daisy had asked those who had not completed their mathematics homework to leave the class. But no student went out. 

“The teacher became angry and beat the students. The teacher pinched my daughter’s cheek so badly that she began to bleed,” said Joseph. He claimed that in earlier incidents too blood had clotted in the child’s hands when the teacher pinched her. The issue was taken to the notice of the Chief Education Officer and the Inspector of Matriculation Schools (IMS) the same evening. On Thursday IMS Vanaja conducted an enquiry. The correspondent, principal, and teacher were questioned.

Admitting that she had pinched the girl little harshly, the teacher, in her mid 50s, apologised. The principal also assured that such incidents will not recur in the school in future and that the teacher will be placed under suspension. The IMS then advised the teacher to be kind to students by not instilling fear in their minds, as it will make them hate school. 

Despite a ban on corporal punishment, such incidents are reported often in this region. Two months ago, a Class 8 student of a corporation school committed suicide, leaving behind a note, that he was forced to take the extreme step as he could not tolerate the repeated beating of his school masters.