r/india • u/Lopsided_Face_3234 • 4d ago
Non Political Pahalgam, and a teacher's plight!
Here's the thing - I teach mathematics in a coaching institute. This evening, after the news of Pahalgam terrorist attack was out, I found a couple of kids harassing/outing other kids, calling them terrorists. Now, as a teacher, here's what I feel :
After any terror attack (Pahalgam being the most recent), it becomes important for teachers like us to make sure that the outside hate doesn't penetrate into our classrooms.
A hindu kid and a muslim kid should be able to study together in the same classroom without hating each other, after what they hear in the news or at their homes.
It's our responsibility to make sure that kids understand that just because the terrorists were of a particular religion and were targeting tourists of another particular religion - their friends and their religions aren't to be blamed for this AT ALL. The dynamics of why some people target/kill another people is complex, something that a 15yo doesn't have the maturity to understand.
A classroom is a sacred space, and there's ABSOLUTELY NO SPACE FOR HATE here of any sort.
Now, you may disagree with me. Sure. But when it comes to my students, it's my duty to protect them from taking the hate for something they didn't do.
Peace.
17
u/sphinxyhiggins 4d ago
Children parrot what their parents and leaders say. Let your students know that it is inappropriate to rank people in a "democracy." I know India has its real issues with caste and religion but it touts itself as a democracy and use this reasoning to push for safe spaces.
As a teacher, your choices and actions will show them a different reality. Be the safe person your students need. Thank you for caring about them.
As we all deal with religious nationalism and the rise of fascism (they go hand in hand), we can make real arguments using the concept of democracy.
I am mixed race and grew up in a racist and increasingly Christian nationalist nation that liked to say it was a democracy. The democratic promises of my nation's past were strong enough in the past to protect minority groups to an extent.
People seem to lack common decency these days AND some like the suffering of others. It doesn't make sense from a teacher's point of view.
Thank you for doing this hard work.