Respect has to be earned, not extracted

A video clip showing a primary school teacher scolding her students for not offering her flowers during the graduation ceremony went viral on Friday. Those who uploaded the video said the students had offered flowers to the headmaster while bypassing the teacher.

Investigations showed the incident took place in Shuozhou, North China's Shanxi province. On Sunday, local education authorities stripped the teacher, surnamed Wang, of her teaching rights, closing the profession's doors on her. The headmaster and three of his associates at the primary school were sacked, and a vice-director at the local education bureau received a warning as penalty.

Wang might have felt embarrassed at not being given flowers, but she should know that accolades, or flowers, are to be earned, by working hard. Any flowers she forces her students to give her will be devoid of any respect or real feeling.

Applause and flowers should always go to those who deserve them, and not to those who demand them.

Besides, how can one who utters harsh words against mortified students, as seen in the video, be deserving of flowers? Or be a teacher in the first place? It was only fair that the authorities stripped her of her teaching rights. The fact that Wang was removed from her post also reflects the authorities' firm resolve to uphold the reputation of teachers and expel those who are undeserving of the post.

The teacher-student relationship should be harmonious and be regulated by discipline where necessary.