rising Concerns โขOver School Violence in Cuba Following Student-Teacherโ Altercation
Recent incidents are raising alarms about escalating tensions andโข violence withinโฃ Cuban schools. A reported โคaltercation between a student and aโข teacherโค at the Josรฉโ Licourt domรญnguez โฃhigh school in Havana has sparked discussion, alongside a separate incident involving students in Las Tunas.
The Havana incident,initially reported by journalist mario J. Pentรณn,involved a physical confrontation between a student and a teacher. While details remain limited, โtheโ father of the student involvedโฃ publicly stated his belief that the teacher shouldโ not โface expulsion, describing theโค educator as “very good” and acknowledging the incidentโค “should not have happened.” He spoke on condition of anonymity.
Despite the altercation, no disciplinary measures โฃare currently planned against the teacher, according to the father’s testimony. The incident prompted a wave โขof comments onโ social media, with many users โagreeing the event was regrettable but praising the father’s outlook.Several commenters noted a pattern ofโฃ disrespect towards teachers from students, with oneโฃ stating it’s “common for โคsome students โขto treat theโค teacher disrespectfully” and even resort to attacks. This commenter also highlighted the challenges facing educators in Cuba, suggesting a lack of support and protection contributes to a decline in individuals pursuing theโ profession.
Another social media user pointed out that similar events “unfortunately” occur in Cuban educational institutions, advocating for increased focus on values, ethics, and civic education, alongside stronger protections for both studentsโฃ and teachers.The comment alsoโข suggested that โคstudent behavior can be influenced by home environments โand proposed considering temporaryโฃ or โฃpermanent โseparation of students from the classroom โin certain cases.
This โincident follows a โseparate altercation in September at the “Wenceslao Rivero” Basic Secondary school in Las Tunas. There, a student injured another with โคaโ pencil, causing scratches to theโค face. The injured student received medical attention โคat the “Piti Fajardo” polyclinic and was confirmedโ toโ have no serious injuries. โLocal education officials stated that “analyses” โฃwere conducted with the students and โขtheirโ families, and disciplinary and administrativeโค measuresโข would be implemented to prevent future occurrences, though specifics were not disclosed.
Both incidents are fueling concerns among parents and โฃthe school community regarding rising tensionsโฃ and violence in Cuban classrooms. the events are prompting renewed debate about theโ role of families, the need for institutional support for teachers, and theโข implementation of clear action and protection protocols within the Cuban educational system.
