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Studentspeak: Favouritism in schools

Mohammed Mishal 

The Indian High School, Dubai

Many of us carry memories of an influential teacher who may scarcely know we existed, but we shouldn’t be forgetting the part they play in our success. They know each and every student represents an opportunity to make a positive difference and there’s no question about them being biased.

Bharath Prathap Nair

Our Own English High School,
Al Ain

I really don’t think that teachers are biased towards favourite students because a teacher is a second parent in a second home. There could be some teachers who are biased but it is only a drop in the ocean. May be teachers are more concerned about their favourite student or may praise him in class but that doesn’t mean teachers are biased to that particular child.

Swathy Sanjay Sindhu
Our Own English High School, Sharjah (Girls)

The personality of both the teacher and student play an important role in deciding favouritism. Also, simply being the favourite of a teacher doesn’t necessarily mean grades being boosted. When on one hand, favouritism can prove to be disastrous to other students in the classroom, on the other, it gives them a reason to compete even more fervently to gain the teacher’s recognition, especially in primary grades. Most of my teachers read the Khaleej Times; hence I remain neutral in this discussion!

Geetika Raj Devkishin
The Indian High School , Dubai

I feel teachers are not biased. Mostly teachers have few students in class who complete their work on time and can be entrusted with a task. For a teacher, all the children are same and are unique in their own way. So they assign tasks appropriately. But when teachers give work to a certain set of students, it creates a misunderstanding that the teacher is biased. Parents should explain to their wards that the teacher loves them all equally and they should work hard to be in the good books of the teacher.

Smeet Shah

Our Own English High School, Sharjah

I think school teachers are somewhat partial. The status of a ‘favourite student’ itself shows their preconception. The objective of teachers should be the academic and mental development of students; but the favouritism they show are hindrances for such development of the students, although this may depend on the nature of the teacher. However, teachers should treat their students with respect, in contrast to what is experienced at some places.

Next week’s topic

Should schools have WiFi connectivity for students?

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