By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has demanded greater respect for educators after Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro accused some teachers of teaching students to disrespect others, remarks the group said demoralize an already overworked and underpaid teaching force.
ACT chairperson Ruby Bernardo on Wednesday rebuked Castro for the remarks made in the wake of the fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, saying such statements were particularly discouraging to teachers struggling with heavy workloads and relatively low salaries.
“Ganito pa ‘yung maririnig natin mula sa tagapagsalita ng Pangulo. Hindi po ito nagbibigay ng motibasyon dun sa ating mga guro, sa halip ay nakakadismaya at nakakawala po talaga ng gana,” Bernardo said in an interview with GMA News’ Unang Balita.
Bernardo rejected the suggestion that teachers encourage disrespectful behavior among students, stressing that educators continue to perform their responsibilities despite difficult working conditions.
“Hindi kami nagtuturo ng kawalang modo doon sa ating mga estudyante, kundi binibigay namin ‘yung lahat ng aming makakaya para makapagturo sa gitna ng abang kalagayan namin, maliit ‘yung sahod, at halos lahat na nga ay pinatatrabaho pa sa amin,” she said.
Castro drew criticism after saying during a Palace briefing Tuesday that there were instances when some teachers allegedly failed to observe proper conduct and even taught their students to disrespect others.
“Minsan na po natin nakita, mismo ang ibang mga guro ay lumalabag sa ganitong klase ng moralidad,” Castro said.
“Sila minsan ay nagtuturo sa kanilang mga estudyante kung papaano maging walang modo, lalong-lalo na sa mga nakakatanda or sa mga ibang tao,” she added.
The Palace official made the remarks following the shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, an incident that has renewed concerns over violence and security in educational institutions.
Bernardo called on the Department of Education and Education Secretary Sonny Angara to defend teachers amid the controversy and ensure that educators receive the support and respect they deserve.
Beyond the dispute over Castro’s remarks, Bernardo also raised concern over what she described as a series of violent incidents in schools since the start of the current school year.
She urged the Marcos administration and Congress to provide sufficient funding for preventive measures in schools, particularly the hiring of additional mental health professionals and security personnel to help protect students and education workers./PN
