VP's anger stands to reason

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