Angry Guards

One of the articles in the most recent "readings" was about two teachers taunting and teasing a severely handicapped student. Why and how does this happen? I cannot go into the heads of the teachers, but that should not stop a discussion / writing. While what they did was horrible, (I've been teased before and know it is not fun) I'm in no rush to dehumanize and judge them. People have been committing unspeakable  acts against each other for a very ling time. I'd guess one said something derogatory to the student once and the other thought it was "funny." It likely started off small and built from there.  In their minds, the kid was dehumanized and that's when the shit can hit the fan. Thank goodness this was stopped before it got even worse. Let's look at the setting a second. 

It is a poor southern-state public school. I would argue this little guy and his class mates are already being seen more as inmates than young students. A good teacher in the same school would say I'm a know nothing damn fool, they really care about the kids as kids. I'm sure there are good teachers there but CAN they recognize the environment / ecosystem they are a part of? It is NOT a one room school house where students come of their own free will and learn with gifted and talented teachers. I'd say it is more like a prison. Kids HAVE to go to school and are taught whatever the state mandates for education. I listened carefully to both tapes and I herd angry guards, not caring teachers. Schools are far more about control than education. Teachers are taught how to keep their classes under control (classroom management ah, sounds softer). The students lives are ran for them from the moment they step inside until they leave. Good future workforce training! They have to ask to go to the bathroom. Keeping others under control can lead to very bad things. Remember this anyone?  These two were taking their role as "guards" too seriously. What is more disturbing to me is neither know they are guards. Rather, they will rationalize their actions to their family, friends and whoever else will listen for the rest of their lives. "I was only trying to get Joe to behave." "I was not angry." "This is not the whole story." ...And so it goes. Could not a professional prison guard say the exact same words after some terrible incident? Both teachers should be held responsible and accountable but they alone are not the issue. 

How we organize ourselves to do things like educate children, work and play have much to do with the kinds of outcomes we can expect. Awkward  sentence,  I know. Let me say it more clearly. As we sew we shall reap. Schools set up like cattle ranches... Well, I trust you can get the picture. It does not end well for the cows and it can make an otherwise good cowboy into a monster. We need to pay very close attention to how we organize our environments. They need to be open, transparent and above all loving. How was it decided these two teachers should be rehired? Were others afraid to speak up? I heard nothing resembling love. You?