I AGREE totally with Ms Michelle Jean Yeang (my paper, Feb 21). We are being over-protective of our children.

The relief teacher who criticised his pupils' essays on his blog should really be allowed to continue teaching, since he likes the job so much.

It is not easy being a teacher these days. Secondary school students challenge teachers openly, knowing that their teachers cannot touch, insult or threaten them. Should the students lodge a complaint, the Ministry of Education
will have to investigate.

Teachers have a lot of responsibilities and spend a lot of time in school, and even have meetings during school holidays.

If there are people who really enjoy teaching, as in the case of this relief teacher, then we need to encourage such people to stay within the system as they are indeed a rare breed.

On another note, we cannot depend on the schools to teach our children the right moral values because that is the responsibility of parents.

Having gone through the civics and moral education myself, I can say that even though every student passes the subject, it doesn't mean they have picked up the right moral values. Knowing what's right and actually practising it are two different things.

Besides, how can parents expect so much from the schools? You want the teachers to do a good job and help your children ace their studies, and at the same time, they must play the role of parents and teach your kids the right values.

Mr Benjamin Lin Yin Jun