The students of the First Belgrade High School have been there for a few days after the tragedy in "Vladislav Ribnikar" Elementary School presented their proposals for improving the relationship between students and teachers, as well as the position of teachers in society. One of the main proposals was for the state to "cut off teachers' hands".
Why educators' hands are tied and whether the harmonization of law and reality in the school yard can help, we spoke with the representative of the Branch Union of Educational Workers of Serbia "Nezavisnost" and teacher of Serbian language and literature Dr. Vesna Vojvodić Mitrović.
Gray area of responsibility
The everyday life of teachers in Serbian observation centers has become high risk business, and this best confirms the request of teenagers who are asking for stricter sanctions for themselves.
Peer violence took off, but it also spilled over into the relationship between children and teachers. In theory, there are protocols for dealing with teachers in situations where verbal or physical violence occurs between children or towards a teacher. Policemen who are present in every school in Serbia should also be a guarantee of safety, but as our interlocutor says, the greatest challenge remains for the teacher to "recognize the moment and react like a human".
As Dr. Vojvodić Mitrović explains, if there is no adequate reaction to the heated spiral of violence in society, we cannot expect the school to have effective mechanisms to control and reduce unacceptable models of behavior.
"Isn't the peak of hypocrisy the provision in the Law on the Basics of the Education and Training System, which provides for increased educational work with the student, for a period of 30 days, even in circumstances where he has committed a violation of the prohibition - for example, the prohibition of behavior that offends the reputation, honor or dignity of the teacher ? In practice, this means that the teacher is exposed to new insults and humiliations during the next month, as long as possible changes in the students' behavior are monitored. That's how, step by step, rising to the spirit of the times, we definitely took every form of authority out of the school", says Vojvodić Mitrović.
Civilized society or zoo
School protocols on protecting children from violence exist, but often, as teacher Vojvodić Mitrović says, they do not recognize life. In many situations, the teacher is not protected by the law, and on the other hand, he is hindered when he needs to prevent a fight between students or hug a child to comfort him.
"Can we, in general, prepare children for a civilized society if we ourselves feel unsafe, like in a zoo? The dominant value system of a society is inevitably reflected in the school. All the efforts of teachers to convince children and young people of the importance of knowledge are insufficient in circumstances where we are witnessing the erosion of all value criteria", says Vojvodić Mitrović.
Changing the course on which we sail and the ethical recovery of society are long-term processes, but, to begin with, teachers propose to take more concrete measures within their powers.
"It is necessary to protect the reputation, honor and dignity of educational workers by changing the legal educational regulations (imposing educational and disciplinary measures on students) as well as by raising the material position by redistributing money in the state budget," says Dr. Vojvodić Mitrović.
Greater autonomy required
She explains that teachers need to be given autonomy and freedom in creating and shaping teaching content. To the extent that it is possible and meaningful, teaching topics should be connected with topics imposed by life, which would ensure the provision of psycho-social support to students and their families.
"Also, through legal and by-law regulations, educators should be freed from many bureaucratic administrative obligations," says Dr. Vojvodić Mitrović.
Students spend more than a thousand hours with their teachers in a typical school year. That is enough time available for the new generations to return to the old values, but in this task, teachers must not be alone.
