In Taiwan, I came across a breaking news article titled “student attacks” while sitting at home. The article reported an incident where a student attacked a teacher by throwing his backpack at the back of the teacher’s head while the teacher was facing the blackboard. This act had severe consequences as it could have left the teacher unconscious indefinitely. I also witnessed this news story on TV later that day.
A reporter asked the student about throwing a bag at their teacher, causing injury, inquiring why they did so. The student replied that the teacher was annoying and explained that the teacher had shared everything, including their excessive homework, difficulty, school avoidance, and smoking habits, with their parents. The student felt it was not the teacher’s place to do so and responded angrily. It’s possible that the student was unaware of the potential danger they put their teacher in.
Regrettably, contemplating the misfortune of a teacher is disheartening. The duty of assigning homework and notifying parents about a student’s conduct is commonly associated with teachers. Nonetheless, rather than receiving appreciation, this particular teacher was actually assaulted by a student, endangering his life. In the past, aspiring doctors, lawyers, or scientists deemed it an honorable ambition to become a teacher. However, due to the escalating occurrences of violence perpetrated against teachers by students in contemporary society, few individuals perceive it as their coveted profession.
Consequently, the government has taken steps to boost the number of teachers, regardless of their graduation from a specialized program, enabling them to both teach students and attend school. Another case of an insufficient teacher is that of a high school teacher who was assaulted by a student. Fortunately, the teacher survived despite suffering significant blood loss. However, this particular incident is not the most fascinating aspect.
The parents of a student sued the teacher because their child received a minor scratch. Due to multiple student attacks, the number of teachers has continuously decreased over the year. However, even without the fear of abuse, being a teacher remains a demanding and poorly compensated occupation. Prior to attending school, teachers must prepare the subject matter they will cover that day. After school hours, they dedicate their time to grading students’ papers. Usually, they invest more time in their profession yet receive less payment and acknowledgement. Numerous parents mistakenly blame the teacher for their children’s behavior when in reality, the teacher’s sole role is to educate.
Although some teachers may be lucky enough to not have violent students, they still face the challenge of establishing a classroom atmosphere that promotes both learning and enjoyment. Currently, I am taking a medical terminology class where memorizing medical terms and their definitions is proving to be tough. However, one resourceful teacher has found some simple techniques. For example, the term “-itis” resembles “I test,” generating a sense of unease similar to that experienced during an examination. The corresponding word for this sensation is “inflammation.” How did this professor come up with such an engaging and effortless way to remember a word root? The amount of time invested in this endeavor must be significant, particularly considering the numerous terms that require memorization.
Due to a decrease in dedicated teachers, future generations are being denied their right to acquire knowledge and information. It is unclear whose fault this is, but it is undoubtedly unfair to the next generations. One potential solution is for the government to increase teacher benefits in order to attract more individuals.
After learning about numerous incidents of “student attacks” and teachers being sued by parents, I was relieved to realize that being a teacher is not my future aspiration. Many of my friends prefer to become professors instead of teachers because they believe that being a professor offers higher income, greater success, and does not entail tasks like grading students’ papers. Although I understand that this perception is not entirely accurate, they are simply deterred by the demanding responsibilities and challenging behavior of the children. I still believe that “being a teacher” is a rewarding profession, but I also acknowledge the concerns raised.
