“Schools are not daycare centers”: teachers react to aggression against teacher

Santo Domingo. – A team from Último Minuto toured several educational centers after the case of a teacher who was assaulted by students became known, an event that has generated outrage and concern in the educational community. In the Parroquial Santana Polytechnic Institute (IPOPSA), teachers expressed their concern about what happened and pointed out that the problem goes beyond an isolated incident. One of the interviewed teachers described the situation as “very worrying” and attributed part of the problem to what they defined as a “social breakdown”. “The problem lies in the family. It is currently disorganized. Parents believe that schools are daycare centers and take their children there only to disengage from parenting,” he expressed.

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The teacher asserted that, in his opinion, fundamental values have been lost and that the Dominican education system is going through a crisis. “In schools, there are many hardships happening. That’s a shame, it’s embarrassing,” he stated.

ADP’s Position

Regarding the reaction of the Dominican Association of Teachers (ADP), he indicated that the union has spoken out against the aggression. He pointed out that in the northern section the representative, Professor José Luis, has categorically rejected the attitude of the students involved. However, he questioned the response of the educational authorities, assuring that, although they do not justify these acts, on occasion —as he said— greater protection is perceived towards students than towards teachers. “They are children, yes, but we have to see how the family’s integration in the school is. That’s the most important thing right now,” he maintained. Furthermore, he recalled that the Constitution establishes the right to a free and quality education, and questioned whether that quality is currently being guaranteed in public schools. “What there is is daycare in many public schools,” he emphasized. For his part, teacher Alexis Calderón, a teacher in the night shift in the area of English and French, indicated that he had no knowledge of an official position of the ADP on the case, but agreed that the origin of the problem is in the family nucleus. “The families of many students do not instill in them values that have to do with humanity and respect,” he expressed. Calderón pointed out that in the night shift of the high school where he works, the atmosphere has been calm in recent years, although he acknowledged that in the past some conflictive situations were recorded. “Lately everything has been quiet, thank God,” he added.

School Safety and Challenges

Other teachers, who offered statements off the record, stated that the exercise of teaching has become increasingly difficult due to the lack of respect and discipline of some students. Regarding the presence of school police, they indicated that they are observed in schools, but they believe it is not enough to address the magnitude of the problem.

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“The staff does what they can, but the situation requires deeper measures,” they commented. The case of the assaulted teacher has reopened the debate on discipline, the role of the family, and the shared responsibility between parents, schools, and authorities to ensure safe and conducive educational environments for learning.