Response of Tehran's Education Department to the Beating of a Math Teacher

The newspaper Ebtekar reported on its front page on Monday that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday issued a statement distancing himself from his first vice president, Mohammad Reza Rahimi. The newspaper Etemad also highlighted that Mohammad Reza Rahimi now has a sentence of over five years in prison for economic corruption, stating that neither the principlists stood by Rahimi and his violations nor Ahmadinejad. Each person is passing him off to another, and the dispute is about not wanting Rahimi. The newspaper Javan, close to the Revolutionary Guards, denied Rahimi's connection to the Islamic Revolutionary forces in its Monday issue, stating that 'Rahimi does not fit with the Islamic Revolutionary forces.' The newspaper Etemad also reported on its front page the announcement of 'investigating the issue of draft dodgers in yesterday's Joint Commission meeting' and the approval of 'conditions for selling military service for absentees' and how to obtain a 'red military card' by paying at least 30 million tomans. The newspaper Resalat, close to the principlists, referred in its Monday front page to 'the alignment of two viewpoints in the reformist front,' stating that 'it is predicted that the moderate thought will prevail over the radical opposition thought in the reformist camp.' This newspaper provided an analysis of the composition of participants in the first reformist front conference held in Tehran ten days ago after six years, stating that 'the new generation of reformists is not reluctant to distance itself from the protests of 2009,' while 'the absence of radical reformist figures was one of the strengths of the conference.' The newspaper Arman reported on the explanations from the Education Department 'regarding the beating of a teacher in Tehran,' stating that the Tehran Education Department, after learning about the beating of a math teacher in District 14 of Tehran, has filed a complaint against the assailants. According to this newspaper, 'on Sunday, January 21, Abolfazl Henanian, a math teacher in District 14 of Tehran, was severely beaten by two individuals who seemed to be relatives of a student at his school while walking to school.' The assaulted teacher stated that this attack occurred after a 'student told their parents that their teacher punishes them.' The newspaper Arman quoted Masoud Saqafi, the spokesperson for the Tehran Education Department, stating that the beating of this teacher in District 14 was carried out by 'two individuals,' and 'immediately after learning about this, the Education Department of the region and the Tehran Education Department have initiated their complaint in this regard. We have also requested the teacher and the school principal to file their complaint in the judicial authorities.' Masoud Saqafi emphasized that the Education Department 'opposes any behavior outside of laws and regulations, whether from parents or teachers,' stating that 'if anyone wants to take action regarding a possible violation on their own, nothing will hold together.' The spokesperson for the Tehran Education Department stated, 'If our teacher has also committed a violation, it should be addressed by the relevant authorities; on the other hand, we will not allow anyone to insult or beat our educational colleague for any reason, and the Education Department of the region and the Tehran Education Department have initiated their complaint in this regard.' According to the newspaper Arman, the spokesperson for the Tehran Education Department also stated, 'We have not yet reached the conclusion that students were punished by their teacher; if such an event or violation has occurred, there are authorities to address these violations.' Masoud Saqafi, regarding whether the assailants were the parents of the students, stated, 'I think this is evident, as they had protests against the school principal after the beating. They should not have expressed their protest in this unpleasant manner.' Mohammad Reza Niknejad, an education expert, in an interview with the newspaper Arman reminded that 'violence in schools has existed for years and occurs in three forms: student-to-student, teacher-to-student, and student-to-teacher,' but in the past, more punishment and violence were inflicted by teachers, and in recent years, violence by students against teachers has also been increasing. This education expert pointed to the role of social networks and mobile phones in recording and disseminating news related to violence in schools, stating that 'the emergence of new communication tools and the ease of disseminating news, photos, and videos' has caused 'these news to be published more and create more sensitivity.' The newspaper Arman quoted Mohammad Reza Niknejad emphasizing that 'violence does not start from schools nor is it formed there, but the social conditions cause the emergence and display of violence and aggressive behaviors in individuals,' but 'the school and educational structure are not without influence in increasing this violence and creating conditions for its emergence,' and 'the traditional educational structure alongside the content of the curriculum exacerbates this environment.' Mohammad Reza Niknejad pointed out the 'dry atmosphere of schools and old teaching methods' and 'the lack of motivation and coercion' for students to study, stating that on one hand, 'these motivations do not exist in schools, for example, playing music in schools is prohibited, and there is less enthusiasm for celebrations,' and on the other hand, 'teachers also lack the necessary spirit to establish relationships with students due to low salaries and livelihood problems.