History Teacher Admits to Racial Slurring Gets Transferred Out of State

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History Teacher Admits to Racial Slurring Gets Transferred Out of State

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Malaysia is known for its multiracial community, of being able to live in relative harmony and equality (well, ahem, relatively most of the time). However a history high school teacher who was accused of racial slurring had to undergo 3 weeks of administration rolercoaster ride for her act that was uncalled and unwarranted for as an educator and nurturer.

Apparently the decision on disciplinary action was made following a completion of a domestic inquiry on the issue for the past 2 weeks.

A local newspaper, The Star reported on August 6th that the group of students lodged a police report against the teacher alleging that she called them unflattering names and making deregatory remarks about Indians in her class.

The slurs sparked protests from parents and community members at the school. A sizeable group of Indian protestors had marched in front of the school gate to protest against the history teacher.

Following the police report, the Education Minister announced that they will investigate the report and only if deemed serious would perhaps make a domestic inquiry on the matter.

Boy oh boy, talk about wrong choice of words -- as the ambiguos, glib and indifferent "perhaps" had added a dollop of unneeded oil to the already burning fire...

And as supplementary to third degree racial burn, a few days after the announcement, the teacher was transferred to an even better school instead.

The Malaysian Indian Association president, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu expressed publicly in a press statement of his surprise for the action of transferring her to a school that was considered to be one of the most outstanding in the Selangor state.

The Malaysian Indian Community was dissatisfied with the punishment that could be compared to "giving a gold apple to the boy who stole" and refused to regard the matter as closed.

But the Malaysian Government defended that the transfer was not a promotion but a temporary shift.

To recompense, she was later given an administrative warning and placed again temporarily in the State of Selangor education department's counselling unit.

A few days later she was yet again transferred to do clerical work in Selangor Education Department.

The Education Ministry which had adamantly tried to prevent the matter being brought to the attention of the premiership subsequently decided the teacher to be transferred out of the state by next week. As of the date today, no other transfer decisions are being announced...again.

The public had commented that the Education Ministry should be sensitive to matters like this as not only are the students affected by such comments but it could also upset the whole community.

Teachers of course have professional responsibilties to their students, but should they mix this is up with personal emotions? Accidents happen, but offensive and derogatory remarks to another should not.