Two students from a high school in the neighboring Chumey valley have committed suicide. It seems that they were caught having an illicit relationship, and as per the school policy their parents were informed. The parents were supposed to report to the school today morning. But in the wee hours of the morning (at around 4 am), the dead bodies of both the students were discovered. Both were studying in 10th standard.
This is the latest in the suicide cases amongst youngsters (especially students) that has disturbed the otherwise peaceful country. When I heard the news early in the morning, I was disturbed. I am a teacher, and I know what it means to me and my profession. There will certainly be back lashes by the media and even the parents. At a time when ‘teaching’ as a profession is questioned, and ‘teachers’ as disciplinarians are noted negatively, this incident will leave a scar. The Mongar and Dagana incidents are still fresh in our minds.
At a time when corporal punishment is banned, and disciplinary issues are on the rise, these isolated incidents will certainly bring us back into the limelight. Then, there is always the blame-game that we love to play. Who is to blame in this situation? Principal? Teachers? School? Parents? Society? Students?
We need to look deep inside ourselves and see that ‘we ourselves’ are to blame. We do it to ourselves. We demand too much of our students. School, society, parents…we all demand too much. We want them on a leash. We keep them on a leash, using so many fences. We forget that they are still students….still youngsters, incapable of making an informed decision about anything.
Whatever the consequences, whoever is to blame, I am still disturbed as I write these lines. I don’t know what I am thinking right now…
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6 comments:
It is indeed very sad to hear that. I was told that recently a boy of Changzamtog LSS school has also committed a suicide with the reason being similar to what sir has to say. The suicide cases are increasing in Bhutan and the figures are alarming among youths. This indeed give rises to questions that need to be answered by our society and most importantly by those so called policy makers. Hope this post of yours reaches to at least some policy makers. Very disturbing news. Really. May their souls rest in peace.
We lack proper path to rightful life because of that fact everyone likes dieing without the end calls...To some extend I believe its the ultimate fate but we cannot blame on fate alone...in fact its sad but I won't be surprise to see and hear many bhutanese dieing of suicide case..Anyway nicely written K.K sir...
I too was immensely disturbed by the news; badly saddened by the awful incidence. It is very pretty sure present method of disciplining structure is failing the purpose to correct the student's mischief. The situation and time have changed. Lifestyles have changed and Living standard too. But ways of confronting the human i.e students' behavior has remained unchanged... In the schools and institutions, principals, discipline committees, teachers have the same obsolete practices of 1970-80s implemented to present generation adolescents. so until we do something about this loopholes, we are bound to lose a couple of our innocent youths in the hands what we called systems.
In the atmosphere of butter and ice cream, a block of stone or wood would really taste worse and many would prefer to skip than to eat it..
It is high time we think through warmth & structure to discourage the adolescents from such mishaps in the future.
Thanks for your view, though I would beg to differ. There are ‘modern’ methods being used in schools, viz. counseling, comprehensive discipline policy....etc....
My principal was commenting that there is need for more ‘choe shey layrims’ in schools....and I agree. Some spiritual guidance could do wonders...
I wanted to reach a wider audience and create awareness.... thanks for the support.
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