A mother in Taoyuan on Tuesday last week posted in a Facebook group photos of her son, saying he had become a “human canvas” — his face, hands and stomach were covered in blue marker ink. When she asked him what happened, the child tearfully told her that the classmate sitting next to him had done it. The mother then accused the classmate of bullying, and questioned why the teacher and school did not know anything about the incident.
However, when the Taoyuan Department of Education investigated the incident the following day, the student’s teacher and classmates said that he had drawn on his own face and body — there was no bullying involved.
The finding likely left his mother stunned and at a loss about how to respond.
Having been a teacher for many years, I am generally unfazed by these kinds of campus misunderstandings and would like to offer a few thoughts based on my experience with suspected incidents of bullying.
When parents harshly press their children for accountability, they often panic and falsely shift the blame onto others. As a result, their innocent classmates are wrongfully accused, and teachers must reluctantly take responsibility. Such situations are all too common in classrooms. It is perfectly understandable for parents to be angry upon seeing that their child has become a “human canvas,” but they should first seek the truth from their child’s homeroom teacher.
If parents do not believe the results of the teacher’s findings, they could ask their child’s classmates and cross-check information from multiple sources to clarify the truth. However, if they remain convinced that their child’s version of the story is accurate and refuse to accept other accounts, they could turn to the school’s internal review mechanism, the school affairs committee, for a formal investigation.
Additionally, parents should try their best to refrain from using social media to make public accusations or prematurely expose incidents. If, after the issue has already blown up online, the truth turns out to be the opposite of what the parents or child initially said, how would the parents handle the situation?
Some teachers or students who have been wrongly accused might be willing to forgive and forget, understanding that they just acted impulsively out of concern for their child. However, the parents of falsely accused students might not be as forgiving. If a parent’s actions cause their child to be treated unfairly, they could hire a lawyer to seek justice, and the situation could become extremely difficult to resolve.
Issues at school should be handled within the educational system. Allowing schools or teachers to address such situations carries far less legal risk than parents posting accusations on social media. After all, parents are adults and must bear legal responsibility for their actions. A simple apology after the fact might not undo the damage. Thus, it is best for parents to think carefully before taking action. A moment of rashness or impulsivity could impact others and themselves, ultimately doing more harm than good.
Chiu Shih-chang is a teacher.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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