Thaindian News

Chennai, Feb 9 (IANS) A Class 9 student of a reputed public school here Thursday stabbed to death his teacher for complaining to his parents about his poor academic performance.

The 13-year-old student of St. Mary’s Anglo-Indian School killed Uma Maheswari, who taught Hindi and Science, in the classroom.

Maheswari, a mother of two, raised an alarm when Irfan started stabbing her. She was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

The school officials caught the student, who hid in a toilet room, and handed him over to the police. Parents of other students rushed to the school to take home their wards.

Police said Irfan was upset with Maheswari for complaining about him to his parents and killed her as revenge.

Classmates of Irfan said the boy is normally reserved and used to enter the class last, but Thursday he ran ahead of others to the class.

Neighbours of Irfan told reporters that the boy is normally quiet and they were shocked to hear that he had committed a murder.

A visibly shocked Father Bosco Perianayagam, school administrator, told reporters that the boy had come prepared to attack the teacher with a knife in his bag.

The school administration has declared holiday for four days.

The St. Mary’s Anglo-Indian School is a reputed one and recognised under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) stream. The school, located in the city’s busiest centre Parry’s Corner, is preferred by middle and upper middle class society.

“The school is very professional. We are informed about the home work, absence from class or other events daily by the school through SMS. It is difficult to get admission in the school. Admission is only after a written test,” a parent whose son is studying there told IANS requesting anonymity.

According to him he got an SMS from the school stating: “Due to unavoidable circumstances, school closes today at 12.10 p.m. School reopens only on Monday.”

“Immediately I had alerted the auto-rickshaw driver who drops my son to pick him up. But when I heard about the murder I went there. It was chaos there with some children crying and most of them looking pale and bewildered,” he said.

“It is shocking, but it was expected to happen given the attitude of the parents and the media towards school teachers,” K.B. Sreevidya, education officer, Srimathi Sundaravalli Memorial School, told IANS.

“When we were in school our parents respected the teachers and did not get angry when our mistakes were pointed out and corrective actions were suggested. Caning of students was prevalent then and no parent complained against the teachers,” she added.

She said in contrast, teachers are nowadays hauled up in police stations for punishing the students and the media highlights the incidents, which emboldens the students further.

Sreevidya added that the absence of moral instruction periods in school nowadays is also a factor for the indiscipline among students.

According to her, disturbed students will avoid eye contact with teachers, and act very obediently, whereas an entirely opposite picture will be presented towards school/class mates.

Saras Bhaskar, counselling psychologist told IANS: “It is easy to spot a child who is mentally or psychologically disturbed. Either the child will be very quiet and reserved or will be aggressive towards other students.”

She does not agree that Irfan would have committed the act based on one complaint by his teacher to his parents.

“Without knowing full details about the boy and his family background it is difficult to give a comprehensive opinion. But if a teenager is not able to cope with criticism then it depends on the relationship between the parents; the parents relationship with the child; if there was comparison with the siblings and others,” Bhaskar said.

She said if there is comparison with siblings then the child builds up frustration over a period of time and it bursts out one day.

According to her, boys in the age group 12-19 undergo biological changes which in turn results in psychological changes and leads to search for individuality, self worth and other aspects.

Bhaskar suggested that schools can bring in professional counsellors to speak to the students on coping with competition and other issues.