A sign of increasing violence in schools?

Chennai teacher’s murder: A sign of increasing violence in schools?

A Class 9 student Thursday stabbed to death a teacher in his school here for complaining to his parents about his poor academic performanace.

Mohammed Irfan of St. Mary's Anglo-Indian School killed Uma Maheswari, who taught Hindi and Science, in the classroom.

Maheswari, a mother of two, raised an alarm when Irfan started stabbing her but before others could come to her rescue she bled to death. She was rushed to the Government General Hospital where doctors declared her dead.

The school officials caught Irfan, who hid in a toilet room, and handed him over to the police. Parents of other students rushed to the school to take home their wards.

A visibly shocked Father A. Bosco, school administrator, told reporters that the boy had come prepared to attack the teacher with a knife in his bag.

Police said Irfan was upset with Maheswari for complaining about him to his parents and killed her as revenge.

The school administration has declared holiday for four days.

"It is shocking, but it was expected to happen given the attitude of the parents and the media towards school teachers," K.B. Sreevidya, education officer, Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial School, told IANS.

"When we were in school our parents respected the teachers and did not get angry when our mistakes were pointed out and corrective actions were suggested. Caning of students was prevalent then and no parent complained against the teachers," she added.

She said in contrast, teacher are nowadays hauled up in police stations for punishing the students and the media highlights the incidents, which emboldens the students further.

Sreevidya added that the absence of moral instruction periods in school nowadays is also a factor for the indiscipline among students.

According to her, disturbed students will avoid eye contact with teachers, and act very obediently, whereas an entirely opposite picture will be presented towards school/class mates.