Vaishali teachers asked to shoo away stray dogs | Patna News – Times of India
Patna: In a move that can only be described as bizarre, teachers of govt schools in Vaishali district have been handed a rather unusual responsibility — drive away street dogs from school premises. Yes, you read that right. In an attempt to protect students from the “canine menace”, the district programme officer of Vaishali has issued a letter ordering teachers to keep the four-legged intruders at bay. Unsurprisingly, this directive has sparked a backlash from the teaching community.
The letter, issued last week, quietly circulated until it gained attention after going viral on social media platforms. Signed by Rajan Kumar Giri, the district programme officer for Vaishali, the letter instructs all school principals, in-charge principals and block education officers in the district to “ensure protection from roaming dogs”. It is as if the authorities believe teachers should also moonlight as animal control officers!
The letter lays out three steps to combat the street dog issue with the first suggestion being to dispose of leftover materials at a designated waste disposal site far from school grounds. The goal, of course, is to stop the dogs from hanging around in search of scraps. The second suggestion is even more curious – do not allow any “attractive” places to develop on school grounds that might lure dogs. What exactly qualifies as a “dog-attracting” area? A playground? A bench? Nobody knows.
Unsurprisingly, teachers were quick to voice their frustration. Anand Mishra, secretary of the Bihar State Primary Teachers’ Association, wasted no time in expressing his discontent. “What do they expect us to do, chase away dogs like we are in a cartoon?” Mishra said. “Should we focus on teaching students or start learning to throw frisbees at stray dogs?” he asked.
Mishra also raised a crucial question: “Who’s going to protect the teachers from the dogs while they are busy shooing them away?” Because, let’s face it, it’s not just the students at risk. He even recalled an earlier incident in neighbouring Muzaffarpur where teachers were asked to keep an eye on villagers carrying “lota” (water containers) to relieve themselves in the fields during the morning and evening hours — and take selfies with them. Picture this: a teacher awkwardly standing in a field with a camera, trying to snap a photo while a villager is just trying to, well, do their business. Not surprisingly, this led to chaos, with some teachers barely escaping the wrath of angry villagers. After strong protests, the govt eventually withdrew that order, but Mishra still remembers it vividly.
The letter, issued last week, quietly circulated until it gained attention after going viral on social media platforms. Signed by Rajan Kumar Giri, the district programme officer for Vaishali, the letter instructs all school principals, in-charge principals and block education officers in the district to “ensure protection from roaming dogs”. It is as if the authorities believe teachers should also moonlight as animal control officers!
The letter lays out three steps to combat the street dog issue with the first suggestion being to dispose of leftover materials at a designated waste disposal site far from school grounds. The goal, of course, is to stop the dogs from hanging around in search of scraps. The second suggestion is even more curious – do not allow any “attractive” places to develop on school grounds that might lure dogs. What exactly qualifies as a “dog-attracting” area? A playground? A bench? Nobody knows.
Unsurprisingly, teachers were quick to voice their frustration. Anand Mishra, secretary of the Bihar State Primary Teachers’ Association, wasted no time in expressing his discontent. “What do they expect us to do, chase away dogs like we are in a cartoon?” Mishra said. “Should we focus on teaching students or start learning to throw frisbees at stray dogs?” he asked.
Mishra also raised a crucial question: “Who’s going to protect the teachers from the dogs while they are busy shooing them away?” Because, let’s face it, it’s not just the students at risk. He even recalled an earlier incident in neighbouring Muzaffarpur where teachers were asked to keep an eye on villagers carrying “lota” (water containers) to relieve themselves in the fields during the morning and evening hours — and take selfies with them. Picture this: a teacher awkwardly standing in a field with a camera, trying to snap a photo while a villager is just trying to, well, do their business. Not surprisingly, this led to chaos, with some teachers barely escaping the wrath of angry villagers. After strong protests, the govt eventually withdrew that order, but Mishra still remembers it vividly.
