I was annoyed, disappointed and frustrated. I had never come across such a situation before! That morning I saw a picture of some snacks on my mini-feed posted by a friend of mine who is a teacher. She wrote that the snacks were presented to her by a 6th grader just before exams and that everyone was joking and saying that it was a bribe to the teacher. I took it lightly. After a few hours, the teacher posted another picture of the answer sheet of the same 6th grader, stating that the bribe didn't work and the child performed very poorly in her exam. So-called educated people, including mothers, were making fun of the student online. This was not a light-hearted issue for me. I asked that, at the very least, the name of the student be removed to ensure her self-respect and privacy, but my friend replied with an obnoxious answer. I was furious but remained silent. I realized that it was not her mistake, but rather the education and awareness she has been deprived of. However, in my heart, I asked my friend: Aren't you a mother? What if it was your child? Didn't they teach you about privacy and confidentiality in university? Were you trained as a teacher? Do you know how to treat children? Do you realize that children are there to learn from you? Don't children have the right to respect and privacy? The records and answer sheets of students should only be shown to parents or other authorized persons. I am certain they are not meant to be shared on social media. Material on social media is famous for spreading widely and can turn anyone's life into a joke. Not long ago everyone was rushing to have their degrees attested and to get a stamp from the ministry to qualify as a teacher. I believe that to teach you need more than a degree. You need to know how to handle children with care and nourish them with good manners. One must realize that children differ in their capability, talent and ability to learn. If you really think that 6th grade students are bribing you, then talk them out of it, instead of blaming their parents. Making students understand the difference between good and bad may be the best thing that you can teach them. Aisha Khanam
