There is so much written and talked about the abuse of
children by individuals. But very less has been discussed about the
institutional child abuses. It is worthwhile to mention about two types of
abuses on innocent children by institutions: first, about the direct
exploitation of children by the institutions and second, about how institutions
nurture conditions and circumstances that are favourable for abusers.
Institutional abuses
Just like the misconception of many parents that, since they
own their children they have every right to use and control their children as
per their wishes, there are certain institutions too who justify their exercise
of control over the children. These institutions claim absolute rights over the
children enroll with them and rationalize their actions as necessary tools in
shaping the personality of children.
(Image bressington.net)
An ordeal called ‘Assembly’
In many countries including India, the only institution that
holds the exclusive rights over the children during the entire period from dawn
to dusk is the School. The abuse does not limit just with the extraordinary
academic burden on the students. Starting from the ’school assembly’ under the
hot sun to late evening practices for cultural programs, students are held
captive by a handful of teaching staff.
When it comes to long morning assemblies, government schools
are the most ‘patriotic’ institutions. These schools want their children to
stand for a lengthy assembly almost every morning, without even realizing that
there are many children among them who are not privileged to get a proper
breakfast at their homes. You can watch a large gathering of school children in
front of the government schools on most of the mornings. You could keep
counting the number of children who faint during such long assemblies. Why
can’t these institutions limit their public assembly to once a week and have
their prayer, national anthem, and announcements done through public address
system in the respective class rooms? Not only morning assembly, many other
public functions are done under hot sun, allowing only the teachers and guests
to sit under a specially erected shamiana
(a temporary ceremonial tent typical in India). Once, I abruptly cut-short my
inaugural speech on one of such public functions in an educational institution feeling
sympathy towards the hapless children.
Receiving the dignitaries
Children are tortured the most when there is a visit by
dignitaries. They are asked to stand in line to receive the dignitary, hours
before their actual arrival. Most of these dignitaries are known for their
belief that the later one arrives, the more important one would become! In the
state of Kerala in Southern India, and also wherever there are Keralites in the
world, it is customary for them to parade the children to do ‘thaalapoli’ in honour of the guests (Thaalapoli is a practice of making girls
stand in line in traditional attire, carrying a plate containing flowers,
sometimes with a lighted lamp, and they are expected to pour flowers on the
dignitaries and on the entire stretch they walk from their car to the meeting
hall). It is sad to see how the dignitaries, including those religious leaders
relish such reception.
Plays and Carnivals
to make money through children
I was told about a private school in the capital city of
India that literally uses their students for commercial activities. Every year
the children are made to showcase plays for the public to whom tickets are sold
at very high prices. The intention is not to develop the cultural talents of
the students, but to make maximum profits from the venture. The school also
conducts what they call a carnival for about three days in a year, where any
hooligan from anywhere can get inside paying the entry fee and enjoy the fun
showcased by the staff, including the principal. Most of these stalls are put
up with the support of unscrupulous elements from outside and they teach the
children the arts and science of gambling and cheating. Children are let out
freely within the campus amidst criminals giving an opportunity to the latter
to abuse them. The parents report that
not a single penny received from these activities is utilized for improving the
infrastructure of the school.
At the service of teachers
In village schools, especially in the government run
schools, the tall and hefty children among the generally impoverished students
are made to do all menial jobs for the teachers. Some class teachers and head
masters ask the students to help them in their domestic chores and also make
them work in their farms. I know a boy whose attendance is marked in school
based on attendance every day at the Headmaster’s house. If he doesn’t finish
the cleaning work in the master’s house he won’t get attendance even if he has
attended all the periods in the school. He has to stand in queue during the
class hours in the fair price shop to get the kerosene, sugar, and wheat for
the master’s house.
Child sex abuse by School van drivers
There are several instances of child sex abuse by school van
drivers reported from various parts of the world. The primary responsibility
for this heinous act is on the institutions. School drivers are selected either
on contract or on permanent basis, without any proper verification of their
past. There is no proper supervision over the staff in these buses. I know
about a convent school run by a Christian congregation of nuns where even the
principal is scared to control the drunken driver of the school van who happens
to be a relative of a former mother superior!
Religious institutions and other agencies
Apart from schools, other institutions that abuse the
children by exercising excessive control over them and by infringing their
rights are some of the religious institutions, government agencies and public
service institutions. Some religious institutions claim absolute responsibility
for the entire behavioural conduct of children who belong to that particular
community, and criticize, threaten and reprimand the innocent children without
giving any convincing reason for their judgments. However the harm is minor and
largely inconsequential as compared to the emotional and physical injuries
meted out by the schools.
Indirect partners in child abuse
Schools
are also indirect partners in child abuse by various other institutions. There
are hundreds of commercial ventures vying to get a share of the funds pumped by
the anxious parents to make their children globally competitive. They partner
with reputed schools and notices and brochures are sent by the school teachers.
Parents are lured by the seal of approval of the institution and send the
children to those courses, ventures, and competitions. Most of the children are
emotionally harassed due to over exploitation of their energy and time, in the
name of ensuring a bright future for them.
Is
regulation a panacea?
If I
mention the word ‘regulation’ or ‘regulatory authority’, there will be many
eyebrows raised. Once I was mentioning this idea to a principal of a private
school and he instantly protested with anger. ‘No authority should interfere in
the affairs of a private school’. Of course, we have too many rules and laws to
curb abuses. As we have so many different categories of educational
institutions and curriculums, we have so many departments and agencies working
crisscross in the area of education. But institutional abuses like those I have
mentioned can be tackled only through a proper, independent, and transparent
institution which can prepare appropriate uniform guidelines for all
educational institutions. A statutory body with representatives of all stake
holders (educationists, doctors, social workers, lawyers, and representatives
from the government) can be formed where the children, parents and public can
report their grievances. Representatives from this body can be involved with
the institutions or can be consulted while decisions which are likely to affect
the rights of the children are taken. Informality, easy accessibility (by
creating cells in every town) and credibility of such regulatory body would
certainly ensure fairness and justice for both institutions and children.
Sibichen K Mathew
Click comments section below to read the comments
Click the links below to read articles in cyber diary on related topics. Comments are welcome.
My son! Don't watch the news
