FOLLOWING a viral video showing a teacher scolding her students, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin stressed the importance of examining the incident from a wider angle and acknowledging the difficulties encountered by teachers, notably those in public schools.
During Tuesday’s regular press conference at the House of Representatives, Garin underscored the need to address the difficulties faced by teachers in a challenging environment and called for leadership within the Department of Education (DepEd).
“That is where the management should come into play. Because this point of time, nangangailangan ng nanay. Nangangailangan ng nanay both the students, the teachers and the institution,” Garin pointed out.
Garin recognized the impact of social media in spreading such incidents but urged the public to consider the bigger picture.
She raised important questions about the well-being of public school teachers, highlighting the lack of avenues for them to address their needs, mental health issues, and acceptance of the actions of their students.
Garin said there is need to establish a command or support system within the education system to allow teachers to voice their concerns and seek assistance.
“It’s (DepEd) a very big institution and there should be a command or a chain where they can vent out their problems,” Garin said.
“Syempre ngayon marami ang nagagalit sa kanya (teacher in the viral video) and on one hand naman hindi lang din natin alam kung ilan sa ating public school teachers are feeling the same.”
Garin further questioned the feedback mechanism between teachers and their administration, emphasizing the need for a platform where teachers can express their problems and receive support.
She noted the possibility that the teacher in question might have been harboring anger without being able to approach the principal, regional director, or even the DepEd Central Office.
Garin urged for a thorough examination of the situation, as this incident may not be an isolated case but rather a symptom of a larger issue.
“This speaks of a bigger situation, a wider situation na dapat talaga tignan ng liderato ng DepEd, and solution must be in place,” she stressed.
In the same press conference, House Deputy Majority Leader and PBA Party-list Rep. Margarita Ignacia “Atty. Migs” Nograles, and Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora, also shared their viewpoints regarding the viral video.
Nograles cited the importance of responsible social media use and urged individuals to utilize the platform for education and kindness.
“You have to be responsible poster, ‘di ba?” Nograles said. “‘Yung social media is a platform that you can use for the good or evil, it’s either maninira ka ng tao or gagawin mong pang clickbait or whatsoever so hopefully ‘di ba gamitin natin ‘yung social media sa tamang paraan, to educate, to be a better person, to be a kinder person, hindi ‘yung mga paninira or fake news.”
For her part, Zamora expressed her concern over the teacher’s behavior captured in the viral video.
She found the teacher’s words to be hurtful and uncalled for, particularly considering her role as an educator.
Zamora highlighted the need for self-control and appropriate conduct from teachers.
“Bilang isang guro dapat nag-practice talaga siya ng self-control. Bilang guro na ginagalang, dapat hindi siya talaga nagwala,” Zamora said.
