AMMAN — A video of a student wrestling and pinning down a
teacher has gone viral in recent days with some saying the video shows how much
the profession declined in Jordan.
اضافة اعلان
Professor of sociology and communication at the University
of Jordan, Helmi Sari, said: “The phenomenon of teacher abuse is an integral
part of Jordanians' way of dealing with matters and disputes that occur amongst
them, and this phenomenon is mainly related to violence.”
Sari said that doctors and nurses are also constantly
exposed to such violence, and that teachers have suffered with the decline of
their position and role, and that this decline is linked to the decline of the
educational process itself.
He also noted that in the past, teachers were highly
respected and appreciated in society. “When I asked students 12 years ago which
professions do you prefer, a teacher, a doctor, or a businessman, they chose
being a teacher, but 10 years later, the choice was being a businessman,” he
said.
The professor of sociology explained that this coincided
with physical assaults on doctors and nurses and reflects how managing problems
needs to revolve around negotiation and understanding, opposed to not assault.
Sari added that there is a lax application of the law and a
rise in the power of tribes, which affects most professionals and not just teachers.
Adnan Rajha, a teacher, said: “I started my work in the
field of education in 1979, and I have never witnessed a period in which
education has collapsed like the period we’re living in.”
He added that education before the 70s was characterized by the
student’s relationship with the
school, which was one of hate and fear, so
students did not dare to speak back to a teacher.
In the 90s, the
position of the teacher was respected, Rajha said, adding that students had the
goal of receiving an education.
However, the teacher said that there has been a decline in
the system and the “vast majority” of teachers are not aware of the message
they’re supposed to deliver and they have no real loyalty, which has resulted
in people’s views of teachers degrading.
The criteria for becoming a teacher must improve, he said.
Rajha stressed that what students did in attacking their teacher was “a
violation towards the entire educational process.”
Fatima Abu Rumman, a mother of two daughters studying in a
public school, said: “I am with the teacher … as the students go too far if
they do not have a teacher with a strong and firm personality.”
Sobhia Suleiman, a school principal, added: “The Ministry of
Education must support the teacher, and I, as a principal, always strive to
support them. The assault on a teacher has broken their authority. If the issue
is not dealt with in a deterrent manner, the teacher’s position will decline in
front of society and students. Also, their wages must be improved, and this
should be in accordance with the efforts made by the ministry.”
As for Faleh Al-Rahamneh, a father of 10 children, he said:
“I graduated from Salt Secondary School in 1973. Teachers back then were highly
respected and were as important as fathers. I remember my teacher well, for
they raised me and taught me.”
“The roads were drawn with our steps, while today most
students use various means of transportation, and we used to study under a dim
light,” he added.
“Today, especially
with distance education, the students’ education level has decreased a lot, and
this will be reflected on an entire generation,” he said.
Rahamneh added that all 10 of his sons hold a university
degree.
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