BEING A
TEACHER in IRAN
In our
country, the reactions, that are put into words by the
teachers who experience tough financial difficulties and
feel suppressed under harsh life conditions like other
people who work on wage, have been going on. The
demonstrations carried out throughout Iran, which have
started last February and March and continued in a
non-stopped manner, are still going on by putting an
emphasis on the criticisms against Ahmadinejad’s
administration.
Religious
leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei gave a statement on March 2,
2007 on the occasion of teacher’s day. In his statement,
Ayatollah Ali Khamanei emphasized the points of “teachers’
being productive and precious people, teaching as a job
being a very honorable occupation, teachers’ having a great
part in the development of the society and Islamic Order’s
appreciation towards teachers.” Khamanei additionally
pointed out that “necessary arrangements are carried out in
order to cease the financial problems and a teacher
insurance company (The Company of Bimeye Moallem) is going
to be founded to provide the social security of the
teachers.” However, these statements were not deemed
sufficient by the teachers and the teachers who preferred to
have concrete actions instead of statements, organized a
demonstration comprised of thousands of people in front of
the House of Parliaments on May 8. The riots and the street
fights that had begun with a gas bomb attack of the police,
caused a very grave scene. Despite the fact that many
teachers were beaten, taken into custody by dragging along
on the streets and injured, the common resistance of the
teachers was on the stage on that day. Thousands of teachers
“at the demonstration area which was surrounded by thousands
of policemen” shouted slogans as “set the arrested teachers
free.” The “Movement of Education Laborers” which got its
starting point with the strike of one hundred thousand
teachers, has not stood back in spite of the violent
pressures and attacks and has exposed a very strong
resistance.
The
demonstrators that had attended the protests which took
place in May, demanded the resignation of the Minister of
Education, Mahmoud Ferschidy or his removal from the office
by a “vote of no confidence” that was proposed to the
assembly. In the Iran Islamic Solidarity Majles, with the
support of "the fraction who has the majority, “Usul
Gerayan” (the conservative side) and over 10 members of the
Reformists, the fraction who is the minority, the proposed
vote of no confidence was voted on 16th of May 2007. The
insufficiency of the present education system, the injustice
in the appointments of the personnel and salary policies,
and the administrational weakness of the Minister of
Education were included in the vote of no confidence, which
is deemed to be as a serious stroke to the Ahmadinejad
administration. However, unfortunately in the vote of no
confidence session, 132 support, 89 opposition and 17
abstainer votes were recorded and it was decided that
Ferschidy would stay in his office. The teachers were not
content with this decision and in a statement that was made
by Iran Islamic Teachers’ Union, it was declared that
teachers are going to continue to seek their legal demands,
and they added that they expect the administration to solve
teachers’ problems instead of hindering the protests.
Meanwhile,
it is not a coincidence that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamanei, in his speech which was made on the occasion of
Newruz , declared this year as “The Year of National Unity
and Islamic Order”, since this slogan really reflects the
current anxieties and needs in Iran. In fact, nuclear
crisis, external thread and socio-economic problems are
considered to have a potential to create splits in the
national unity.
The
administration still seems unsuccessful and indecisive in
its efforts to find solutions for the urgent problems. The
attitude of the administration in current economic issues
such as petrol rates, limits of interest, inflation and
privatization seem to create a sense of insecurity not only
in the markets but also vis-a-vis the Supreme Leader. As a
result of all these, the recent social agitations that are
not felt very strongly yet come out from time to time. The
boycotts of teachers, the acts of university students and
the recent pressures put on the women about their outfits
are increasing the reactions.
Moreover,
the administration, with the effect of the elements related
to the Intelligence and the Revolutionary Guards Corps
develops a more despotic, skeptic and intimidating attitude
day by day. The fact that the recent women, youth and
teacher demonstrations and also the activities of some media
and ideology related elements have labeled as “the products
of conspiracy theories of external powers” and the
investigations are carried out regarding these issues also
reflects these tendencies. The discussions on the outfit
could be counted as another sign of this tendency.
The chaotic
atmosphere of the country is also observed by the other
organizations out of Iran. For instance, Iranian National
Resistance Council made a statement regarding the
demonstration of teachers on April 9, 2007. In that
statement it was pointed out that, “the legal reactions of
the teachers did not meet by the Iranian regime and the
international teacher organizations should condemn Iran as
soon as possible.” Additionally, they called all the
students and youths in Iran to support the teachers.”
Our
teachers are the fundamental elements of this country. They
are the ones that prepare our future generations for life.
While the families are providing the basic education to
their children, the teachers explicitly put far much more on
this basement. It is hard to understand the reason behind
Ahmadinejad Administration’s anger and cruelty towards these
people who actually try to fulfill a very significant and
meaningful duty in bringing up the next generations. This
working sector, who undertakes a very fundamental duty,
certainly deserves better life standards. Because of the
fact that the economic conditions of our country is clear
and besides the effects of the US embargo is began to be
felt; not being able to meet teachers’ all needs is
understandable, however in the demonstrations in which
teachers seek for their legitimate rights, they should be
behaved as they deserve as human beings.
The
Ahmadinejad Administration’s attitude towards the teachers
during their demonstrations, which was made for their
rights, can be considered as an example of ungratefulness.
We expect our government to try to understand the problems
of the teachers and to make an attempt to solve them instead
of hindering the demonstrations violently.
Our
teachers are offended by the state’s attitude that pictures
them as an enemy of the state and the regime. That attitude
hurts our teacher’s feelings. Interestingly, the biggest
support to the teachers came from the students who yearn for
a better future and a richer and stronger Iran.
Meanwhile,
it is considered useful to emphasize that our students as
our teachers are taken into account as the enemies of the
state and the regime. Depending on just reasons, students
make demonstrations when they feel the necessity but at such
kind of times too, they have to encounter with violent
reactions of the regime.
Ahmadinejad
Administration took these demonstrations wrong. The first
fundamental point that must be understood is that these
people are the citizens of Iran and they do not desire this
country to be dissolved. The teachers and the students
depending on the structure of their common society, they are
far better familiar with the needs of the new generation of
the society. The students, as part of this new generation
and the teachers as the ones who have the responsibility to
make this new generation ready for life, they both have much
more better understanding of the dynamics that have an
effect on the society. Although the government turns a blind
eye to the fact, it is clear that every generation takes its
progress over each other. Therefore, there stands a
difference between the necessities of the former and the new
generation. If these young people, who are the future of
Iran, desire more freedom, they ought to receive that. The
given freedom would comfort our young people. Nowadays, one
of the most significant problems of our country is the drug
addiction among young people. Our young generation attains
an imaginary paradise and happiness through the usage of
drugs. Because of its commercial interests, our government
does not try to prevent the drugs trafficking and by this
way, the government itself provides this “venom” to young
people who have already felt under pressure. That is to say
our government is poisoning our future and hope by its own
hands.
What is the
meaning of warning a young girl or even put her into prison
due to the fact that some of her hair can be observed or she
wears colorful? Our religion, Islam is not a despotic one.
The fundamental essence of our religion is human beings. Our
religion was revealed “to people” by Allah. People do not
exist for the sake of religion; however, religion exists for
the sake of people. It is such nonsense to create
stereotypes out of single form outfits while having such an
advanced religion depending on the basis of tolerance. If
our holy Allah had been after such kind of one-looked
stereotypes, he would have created all the humankind same to
each other. The spark of divinity and the fire of life in
each human being are unique. Naturally, this difference
finds its reflection in dressing styles of people. If the
men living in Iran feel a discomfort towards the colorful
outfits of women and their little lock of hair, then it
becomes certainly indispensable to question our social
morals and psychological state.
Ahmadinejad
Administration should no more remain indifferent to the
developments in the social field. These problems are
damaging the dynamic structure of Iran. The problems of
teachers and students who construct this structure are
deeper than they seem. Considering the worth of these people
within the Iranian society, the authorities should solve the
problems immediately.
