“Teachers: Don't allow them to be politicians”

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Teachers: Don't allow them to be politicians Posted: 03 Aug 2010 06:55 PM PDT Teachers: Don't allow them to be politicians I REFER to the announcement by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan that graduate teachers on grades DG41 to DG48 can take part in active politics from this month. This is not good for the long-term development of education. The reasoning that teachers are knowledgeable and command respect among communities and could bring ethics to the political landscape is idealistic. Quite a number of teachers enter the teaching profession due to job security, inability to obtain a job in the private sector or to enjoy comforts such as school holidays. The government should have engaged in fact finding before coming up with this policy. The teaching profession should be seen within a professional context that takes a broad view of the human development of our children. Its sole purpose is to help and facilitate the creation of outstanding students to excel in academic and real life; to help improve the psychological, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being of children. Helping students to seek the truth in the scientific and spiritual realms might be a tall order, but this endeavour would help teachers to critically assess issues within a broader view of humanity. Today, education seems to merely impart knowledge through rote learning and preparing students for exams. Allowing teachers to get involved in politics can only make things worse. Serving two masters would further weaken the education system. I hope the government will reconsider its decision. Teachers, who are civil servants, should not lose their professional character and should spend more time in contributing ideas to develop our education system, besides playing a critical role in democracy by advocating ethics to politicians of different schools of thought. RONALD BENJAMIN Ipoh, Perak Air your comment on this issue: Teachers: Don't allow them to be politicians Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment. New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST. Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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