Teachers thrashed by angry villagers

THENI: Two teachers of a Government school at Kottur here were at the receiving end of the stick as they were thrashed by residents of the village holding them responsible for the poor results in the tenth standard examinations this year.
   
Only 20 percent of the students passed in the exam which made the villagers furious, an office bearer of the Teachers' Association said on the condition of the anonymity.
   
He said no complaint had been lodged on request from the Government Education department Officials.
   
Quoting students of the School that both teachers were very efficient, he said the teachers were in general not able to impose discipline as government banned corporal punishment.
   
"We are not able to impose any discipline, which is very essential in Schools where the standard of students is poor. While the creamy layer of the students who do well in studies were absorbed by Private schools, we, in Government schools, get only below average students. Soft words will not help" said Selvaraj Pandi, a senior teacher of a Government school.
   
There were reports of teachers being heckled, and teased in many rural schools, and the problem has been brought to the notice of Government officials, said a District Education Officer of a nearby district.
   
He said in many rural Government schools, the teachers were demanding restoration of corporal punishment for the welfare of the students, though it would sound paradoxical.