Castro’s remarks on student behavior triggers outrage from teachers group

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro drew flak from the group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) after her remarks linking teachers to students’ behavior and values sparked backlash among educators.

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 19, Castro stood by her statement and declined to issue an apology, explaining that her remarks were intended to emphasize the influence teachers have on students’ character and moral development.

“Naiintindihan ko po kung saan nanggagaling ang mga guro, at wala po tayong sinabi na sila ang dapat sisihin. Ipinapakita lamang po natin kung gaano kalaki ang kanilang role bilang pangalawang magulang sa ating mga kabataan,” Castro elaborated.

The controversy stemmed from Castro’s earlier remarks following the school shooting incident at Ateneo de Zamboanga University, where she said that some teachers may set negative examples and influence students to display disrespectful behavior.

“Minsan na po nating nakita mismo ang ibang mga guro ay lumalabag sa ganitong klase ng moralidad. Sila minsan ay nagtuturo sa kanilang mga estudyante kung papaano maging walang modo, lalong-lalo na sa mga nakatatanda or sa mga ibang tao,” Castro said on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Meanwhile, ACT rejected Castro’s characterization of the criticism as a misunderstanding, arguing that educators across the country collectively reacted because they felt targeted by Malacañang’s generalization about teachers’ influence on students.

“Hindi kami nagtuturo ng kawalang modo doon sa ating mga estudyante, kundi binibigay namin ‘yung lahat ng aming makakaya para makapagturo sa gitna ng abang kalagayan namin, maliit ‘yung sahod, at halos lahat na nga ay pinatatrabaho pa sa amin,” ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo expressed in an interview.