VP's anger stands to reason

News that Teachers' Day celebration turned sour (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 28, page 4) has tarnished the image of the humanistic, prestigious teaching profession.

I am wondering why teachers or even a professor would stage a critical protest amid news that teachers welfare would be improved through the teachers' bill.

The idea expressed by E. Alatis (1980) saying: As a teacher, I am unique and powerful" should not be interpreted that a teacher is as strong as factory or industrial workers. Neither should it mean that a teacher is unique in expressing protest through a critical but unpleasant poem, which was criticized by the Vice President.

Teaching experts have argued that one can be called a genius only if one has a high IQ, but to other experts the important thing is not only IQ but EQ (emotion quotient) as well.

Did the way teachers protested meet the true philosophy of humanistic education at the right time and place considering the government's grappling with the teacher's bill for the sake of their welfare?

ODO FADLOELI Bandung