Teachers as role models
Just when you think the school shootings involving minors in Tacloban and Zamboanga couldn’t make our flawed education system look any worse, comes now a series of toxic social media posts from some teachers and leaders of the institution.
In a now deleted viral post, Randy Emmanuel Villar Bulanon, the principal of Dimasalang National High School of Masbate, posted derogatory remarks about Akbayan party list Representatives Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno and Percival “Perci” Cendaña, and outspoken lawyer Jesus Falcis. Bulanon disparaged Diokno’s appearance and that of stroke survivor Cendaña, and made a vulgar suggestion about Falcis’ sexual orientation.
Days earlier, teacher Zenith Enriquez of Danao City, Cebu, said in her Facebook post that she would shoot Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro in the mouth for her remarks on teachers’ culpability for their students’ behavior. During a press briefing, Castro had said that “young people should be guided not only by their parents, but also by their schools.” She added: “We have seen instances where some teachers themselves violate this kind of moral standard.”
Heckling the President
The Palace official said her comments were based on a viral video where a teacher appeared to be teaching students insulting words directed at President Marcos who had visited in late July a government housing project in Davao City, the bailiwick of his political rival, Vice President Sara Duterte. The video showed students of Calinan National High School heckling the President and loudly expressing their wish for his chopper to crash on its way back to Manila.
While Bulanon, Enriquez, and the Department of Education (DepEd) Davao City have apologized publicly for the posts, netizens have been relentless in calling out the offenders for their intemperate and disparaging words. And rightly so.
“Apology is not accountability,” Cendaña said, adding that he would file administrative charges against Bulanon. The Masbate principal can also be held accountable for his demeaning remarks on Cendaña under Republic Act No. 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which explicitly bans public ridicule and vilification of individuals with disabilities.
Falcis meanwhile said that he would file charges against Bulanon for violating the Safe Spaces Act or the “Bawal Bastos” law that defines and penalizes gender-based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces, and educational institutions.
Role models
Bulanon and Enriquez can be cited as well for violating the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers which acts as the moral and professional compass for all licensed educators in public and private schools. Section 3 of Article XI specifically states that “A teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified personality which could serve as a model worthy of emulation by learners, peers and all others.”
And this is the heart of the matter. Students look up to their teachers and school officials for guidance, absorbing values from how these exemplars act both in and outside the classroom. Like surrogate parents, teachers are not only educators but also role models who teach through their words and actions. How can schools teach respect when its leaders do the opposite?
As private citizens in a democracy, educators do have the right to express themselves—but always, that comes with the responsibility not to impinge on the rights of others. The demeaning remarks and threats school leaders have posted on social media not only denigrate individuals and expose them to ridicule; they also undermine respect for the institution of learning and reveal the malaise in leadership that has convinced some learners to act on their baser, even violent, tendencies.
Culture of violence
When school leaders emulate political personalities who regard critics as sworn enemies to be neutralized and eliminated at all costs, a culture of violence ensues, encouraging an automatic response of threats and physical attacks in impressionable young people faced with conflict.
The DepEd should move quickly to sanction educators who abet this culture with their recent actions. A thorough investigation into their cases should result in either a reprimand, their suspension from the teaching profession, the revocation of their professional license, and forfeiture of pension and other retirement benefits, depending on the gravity and frequency of their offenses. Peer pressure from teachers’ organizations like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers should be exerted as well to prevent similar instances.
Teachers and educators play a key role in developing the character of our youth and shaping the citizens who will henceforth lead the country. It’s never too early to show them how to develop compassion, respect for diversity, how to engage in calm but productive discourse, and to explore peaceful resolutions to conflict. “Fish rots from the head down” is a wise dictum that teachers must take to heart if they are to remain true to their calling.
