Indonesian Teachers Sparked Outrage Online For Burning Students Properties
A video of teachers throwing students’ smartphones into a fire can in Indonesia went viral. It was punishment for the students who refused to obey the restrictions against using smartphones during class time. It is believed that these students were at a boarding school.
One of the teachers was seen waving what is believed to be an iPhone at the students gathered around before throwing it into the flames. Protests of “mbak” (madam) could be heard as the students begged their teachers not to destroy their phones..
The video sparked a debate on Twitter, with netizens being mostly outraged at how the teachers didn’t seem to understand that the phones were given to the students by their parents who want to stay in contact with their children.
this is soo wrong. kalau phone is prohibited kat sekolah, just rampas then pegang. apa hak untuk bakar macam ni, salah lah. there are tonnes of reasons why parents bagi phone pada anak diorang kat boarding school. emergency, balik kampung naik bas. — nomnomnom (@heiapeni) February 20, 2022
One mentioned that the disciplinary method was outdated as phones are now a necessity and no longer a luxury that could be kept indefinitely from the students during their time at the boarding school.
There is that danger of course and it is surprising that the can didn’t explode.
It is much better to force the students to surrender the phones before lesson time or confiscate the phones of recalcitrant offenders.
It’s barbaric to do that to the students.
What’s concerning is how some netizens actually agreed with the teacher’s actions.
Destroying property as a disciplinary action is frowned upon.
Half cooked story, do we know exactly why the teacher burn the phone.. so xfair utk accused with ur own version of perception. Pape pun budak zaman skang mmg senang distracted with technology. And fragile in terms of self esteem. For me ape cikgu buat always the best utk student2 — zharif g (@g_zharif) February 21, 2022
Indonesian teachers resorting to burning students’ property isn’t new it seems. Earlier in February, another video depicting a teacher burning students’ shoes was spread online. It was alleged that the students had violated school rules.
Pesantren schools or religious boarding schools in Indonesia are known for destroying mobile phones or anything branded that they find on the students. Mobile phones are prohibited in such schools due to religious reasons. It is believed that phones are a major cause of distraction for students who are there to study Islam.
While the prohibition of phones in such schools is understandable, there is no need to resort to burning or destroying them. The phones are probably bought by their parents for them to contact their children easily.
Phones aren’t cheap especially in countries like Indonesia where it is not unheard of for parents to scrimp and save just to ensure their children have access to technology. Despite the belief that technology can corrupt young minds, phones are a necessity today, even in religious schools. There are ways to ensure that the phones are used in the right way.
Burning any property belonging to the students is a backwards way of enforcing discipline. All it does is make students resent teachers and view discipline in a negative light. Just confiscate the prohibited items and return it to them at the end of the school term.
Reporter’s Opinions: I don’t understand the drastic measures. If the students were really from Pesantrens, it’s safe to assume that most of them didn’t come from well-to-do backgrounds. The phone is probably equivalent to a few years’ savings and to see it destroyed just like that, it hurts.
It is an abuse of authority.
Burning the shoes doesn’t fucking make sense. Even if it’s branded and against the dress code of the school, there is no need to do that. It is easier to confiscate and let them wear sandals for the rest of the school year to teach them humility. I mean that is the only reasoning I can find for shoes to be confiscated. These kinds of Islamic schools are known to teach students to dress modestly to teach them humility.
The irony is that Islam also prohibits the destruction of other’s properties. By doing what you do, what example are you setting for your students?
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