I met a friend of mine and found him upset, visibly angry, his face marked with sadness. I urged him to put his trust in God and to speak his mind if he wished, to ease his burden. What I heard shocked me: he told me that one of the expatriate teachers, who teaches his son in elementary school in Mubarak Al-Kabeer, had struck his child with a stick, causing him to cry in pain. Worse still, this teacher forced him to stand at the back of the class and insulted the students in general, saying verbatim—pardon my words—“You sons of shoes!”
Forgive me, but I must speak plainly, without the usual politeness we are accustomed to. The issue here concerns a supposed educator—“supposed” being the key word—who lacks the very basics of upbringing and moral conduct that must govern any teacher’s interaction with our children. Under his hand, education has been degraded into a marketplace polluted with vulgar language, offensive terms, and the cruelty of physical punishment masquerading as discipline.
How can a teacher resort to beating and cursing in our schools? We all know that teachers are bound by ethical standards. They are entrusted to instill in their students noble morals, human values, and compassion—regardless of the diverse backgrounds these children come from.
School is the formative environment that prepares them for society and the workforce—the “children of the future.” How can we build their confidence, strengthen their self-concept, and nurture empathy if instead we plant in them fear, pain, and a sense of insecurity? This is especially alarming for our elementary students, the foundation of our society, where moral cultivation must begin.
We do not need teachers brought into our schools merely because they hold certificates—often with mediocre grades—that technically qualify them for employment. And let me be clear, this is not about prejudice; it is about fairness. We need competent teachers who possess not only knowledge but also values and ethics—teachers armed with the tools of the future, capable of guiding our children through the challenges of technology, which, if left unchecked, could lead to harmful consequences. We need teachers who can shape our children’s personalities, helping them face a rapidly changing future with steady, confident, and creative minds.
To the Minister of Education: we know you are attentive to such matters, which are serious indeed. Our children’s tears are precious and must not be shed in vain. We trust you will not allow this matter to pass unnoticed. I leave this issue in your care, with respect and appreciation—and invite all those who have had similar experiences with such teachers to share their stories for the sake of our children.
