Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Feb 09, 2009 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom
A female teenager alleges she was told not to return to school until she pulls out her ‘gold tooth’. This child has since found herself embroiled in a sexual abuse case which is being investigated by the police.
While these are two separate matters — the issue with the school and the sexual abuse case — it cannot be helped but asked whether the fate of that child would have been different had she been in school and not had to stay away because of her gold tooth.
These are just some of the amazing things that contribute to the drama within our society. Without this drama, things would be very boring in Guyana. But these incidents often, also, as in the case with this child, have a tragic side to it; and what is important is that both tales of this tragedy — the non-attendance at school and the sexual abuse charges — be addressed.
Anyone who has suffered a fractured tooth would know that, in order to cap this tooth, a strong metal is needed. Gold often serves this purpose without being unsightly, and this is why it is often the choice for making crowns for broken teeth.
Persons do not simply crown their damaged teeth with gold simply for decorative purposes. Gold remains one of the most durable and less unsightly metals used for making crowns.
Any demand for a child to pull out her gold-crowned tooth in order to be readmitted to school is worthy of an investigation. The Ministry of Education should investigate whether a young teenager still attending school ought to have been subjected to this sort of demand.
The result of the child having to pull out the gold crown would be a no- tooth child having to subject herself to all manner of taunts in school. Once the teacher was satisfied that the child’s gold crown is not simply for decorative purposes, the child should not be asked to pull the tooth. In order for the teacher to have made such an assessment, that teacher would require the child to visit a dentist; and unless this was done, there can be no proper basis for asking the child to pull the tooth.
That child is now mired in a major sexual abuse controversy, and this may have been prevented had the child been able to attend school. There needs to be a detailed investigation as to the reasons for this child not attending school.
There used to be a truancy unit that would go around finding children who were not in school during school hours. The unit would go and speak to the parents of these children; and in some instances, legal action was taken against the parents.
This approach has its limitations, because there is only so much ground such a unit can cover. There is a simpler and better way for the matter to be addressed.
Every time a child stays away from school, a call should be made to the parents’ home to ascertain why the child is not in school. In this way, if the child is absenting himself or herself without the knowledge of his or her parents, the truth would be known. Also, the child should be requested to walk with a written excuse for his or her absence, and the signature on the letter should be compared with specimens of the parents’ signatures, which should be kept on file by every teacher.
This is what obtains in the developed world. A child is absent from school and the parents get a call asking about the child. This does not happen in Guyana, because sufficient interest is not being shown.
Teachers must see themselves as filling an important role in the lives of their children. In many instances, children spend more of their waking hours in school, and therefore teachers should see themselves as surrogate and temporary guardians for the students, and should strive to do the best for these children.
This is not to excuse the neglect by parents. Parents must take responsibility, but at the same time they should ensure that advantage is not taken of their kids.
Teachers must be considerate and not lord it over children. In the particular case referred to above, the alleged abuse of the child will probably mean that this child will never again return to a classroom. And that is so unfortunate, because that child’s future has been seriously jeopardized because of what took place.
The Ministry of Education therefore needs to make a determination as to whether what is being said is true. Were the doors of the school shut in the face of this child simply because of a gold tooth?
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]