Editorial: Tale of Two Schools ; Who Really Needs to Apologize?

Shimla Mar 25 Ritanjali Hastir 

In a world where schools should serve as beacons of knowledge and character building, a stark contrast between two recent incidents highlights the hypocrisy of those who claim to uphold moral values. On one hand, Auckland House School, a premier institution, has introduced an inclusive approach to celebrating all cultures and traditions. This progressive step, meant to promote harmony, was met with unwarranted communal outrage. On the other, a government school in Shimla was recently embroiled in controversy when a teacher forced students to slap each other, turning a classroom into a scene of humiliation and fear.

The case at the government school ( Government Model Girls Senior Secondary School Portmore) should raise more concern than Auckland House’s inclusive environment. A teacher there not only instructed students to hit their peers but also demonstrated the “proper” way to slap by striking them herself. This shocking act of violence is a disgrace to the teaching profession, yet where is the communal uproar? Where are the protests against such an educator, who physically assaulted children and instilled fear in their young minds?

Compare this to Auckland House, where no student was ever forced to engage in any religious practice. No student was slapped for getting an answer wrong. No teacher humiliated a child. Instead, the school promoted understanding and coexistence. Yet, it became the target of communal hate. It begs the question—who truly needs to apologize? A school that promotes inclusivity, or an institution where teachers publicly violate students’ dignity?

It is ironic that those who condemned Auckland House School for supposedly “undermining” Hindu traditions remain silent when real harm befalls children in government schools. Where was the same anger when students were being physically abused? If promoting secularism is deemed offensive, but slapping students is not, then we must seriously reconsider our societal priorities.

At the core of this debate is a troubling reality—selective outrage fueled by misplaced biases. Instead of attacking an institution striving for unity, energy should be spent addressing genuine issues in our education system, ensuring safe learning environments for all students. If inclusivity is a crime, then what should we call the brutality happening behind the closed doors of some government schools?

It is high time that the real issues in our education system take center stage. If people genuinely care about the moral and ethical upbringing of students, their concern should be directed toward schools where violence, intimidation, and fear are being normalized, rather than on institutions trying to foster inclusivity and mutual respect.

The real danger isn’t secularism—it’s blind, selective outrage that conveniently ignores real injustices. Perhaps those so quick to call for apologies from Auckland House School and are still trying to tarnish the reputation should first question their own silence on incidents that actually harm young minds.