Presidential Proclamation No.

242, series of 2011, declared September 5 to October 5 of

every year as the period for celebrating our teachers. An occasion that is used to commemorate
the unique role and service that teachers play in nation-building. Yet, amid the heroic efforts of
our teachers, there are still other grim realities that have to be told. Among a lot, is the
disrespect they get from the very minds they educate.
In a typical college section, students often have their own group chats. It has become an
avenue for them to communicate their ideas, discuss a range of topics, and even help each
other understand things that might confuse them. Every teachers’ month, this very group chat
has become a platform for students to lay out their plans for surprising their teachers. This is not
only to adhere to the mentioned Presidential Proclamation but also to acknowledge educators’
role in ensuring that quality education is continuously delivered despite the many challenges
brought by the many constraints present in our educational system. However, this time, this
online messaging feature has turned into a place where students grumble about their teachers
as if they were the enemy.
The recent social media clamor brought about by the ill-fated remarks of some DNSC
students is just the tip of the iceberg. In a now-deleted Facebook post, the DNSC instructor
called out her students about their inhumane statements against her. Words of disrespect and
even death wishes were evident in the leaked students’ conversations. However, this grim
reality is not only true for DNSC. In an article published at Rappler, a student criticizes his
teacher’s method during online class, saying that teachers are insensitive to their struggles. On
top of it, a video is posted on their group chat wherein students were seen laughing at their
teacher’s inability to manipulate a video-communication service application. This is a clear
manifestation, that despite teachers’ efforts to be adaptive and considerate, some students do
not recognize all the teachers do for them.
Going back to the issue, it seems like the root cause is the academic tasks given by the
teacher. Nonetheless, it was such an impulsive decision for the students to have ridiculed their
instructor who hope nothing but to have a virtual discussion with them. As one of the State
Colleges in the Province, it is only indisputable for teachers to hone their students’ skills through
various academic activities. But it seems like the tasks are too overwhelming for the students
that frustrations have swallowed the morality within them, causing them to spit out baseless
accusations against their teacher. A recent American Psychological Association report, co-
authored by professors at Rutgers, showed that teachers faced an increase in abuse both
verbal and physical; during the pandemic. Evidence that some students are taking out their
frustrations with the current times upon their teachers.
It is completely unjust and immoral to treat our teachers so rudely. Teachers treat their
students as humans. They understand when students are unable to do their schoolwork. They
recognize when stress gets excessive. They understand what students are going through since
they have been through similar experiences. As students, we can focus our frustration on
concrete measures to improve the situation. We can begin by having open and honest
conversations and expressing our concerns in a polite manner. It might not work, but it certainly
has a better chance than mocking teachers in group chats.
As we continue to commemorate teachers’ contribution to the growth of our society. May
issues of disrespect remind us to embody responsible human rights preservation and call out
those who are accountable for their own mistake. This is not only to change the status quo but a
lesson for us that should never again, in another nevermore in the history of our institution or
elsewhere that teachers were disrespected.