Student Witness HM-teacher Fistfight

This disturbing piece of news appeared in today's Star.

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Nation
Monday October 10, 2005

Students witness HM-teacher fistfight

BY MUGUNTAN VANARKOTA

KINABALU: A recent fistfight between a school principal and teacher in front of students in interior Tenom has prompted parents to demand for the immediate transfer of the two.

A committee member of the Parent-Teacher Association member Hasman Basir said the two educationists have created tension in the school with students becoming too scared to attend classes since the incident in August.

“We are appealing to the Education Department to transfer the two teachers as we fear that the tension between the two might boil over again and create more problems for the school,” he said.

He said a transfer was the best solution to the problem because if they stayed on, an unhealthy atmosphere in the school would prevail.

“It was shocking behaviour and embarrassing at the same time, and the students fear that if nothing is done another incident might occur,” Hasman said.

The fight took place on Aug 18. Fellow teachers stopped the fight, he said, adding that they were not aware of the cause of the brawl.

“As parents, we just want the Education Department to take the necessary action. They can take whatever disciplinary action they want to, but as far as the PTA is concerned those two are no longer welcomed here,” Hasman said.“We want students to get on with their studies and not see teachers fighting.”

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Whatever their personal differences might be, fights among teachers cannot be justified. The fact that it occurred in full view of their students makes it all the more intolerable. What values are they trying to inculcate in them? Is violence the way to solve problems? Transferring the teachers also seems to be taking the easy way out. The problem isn't solved but is relocated that is all. Perhaps they could attend an anger management course.