Education C.E.O. on Viral Video involving San Pedro Teacher
On Wednesday, we aired the viral video of a teacher from the San Pedro High School verbally abusing her students during a virtual class session. The female teacher used the words “stupid” and “idiot” to refer to the students who had not responded to a question on gravitational pull. As we said, the video went viral and there was quick reaction from the leadership of the school as well as the Ministry of Education. Today, News Five caught up with Education C.E.O. Dian Maheia who says that the ministry remains concerned.
Dian Maheia
Dian Maheia, C.E.O., Ministry of Education
“It has to come from a position of concern because this is indicative of a lot that’s happening that would really be so much to unpack in those few seconds of that video. What we have done is we’ve taken the position that we are concerned by what has happened there because obviously no children, no students should be subject to any forms of abuse – whether it is verbal or any other form of abuse – that’s not something that we are supportive of in any way; it is not something that we condone. We do recognize though that this may also be the impact of life in a pandemic, the frustrations of teaching in these situations. We under that diminished mental health, increased frustration, levels of fatigue are things that are plaguing everyone – teachers, parents, everyone feels these things. So we are using this as the reminder and the impetus for us it is really timely. We are so grateful that we also have a mental health video series ready for release for teachers and it works because we feel that this is a time for us to remind teachers that as they move into the Christmas holidays that is it three Rs. You have reading writing and arithmetic – usually you think of your education. What we are saying for the teachers is rest, recharge, renew. And so this mental health series is going to be our chance – and you are the first person I am telling about this – but this is going to be our first attempt to begin to support the teachers in mental health.”
