Teacher In Johor Apologises After Punishment Method Sent High School Student To ICU
The entire class was punished by having to run 30 rounds with their mask on after several students did not complete their homework, resulting in a student being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
By Ivyna Ong — 20 May 2022, 01:55 PM
A physical education (PE) teacher from Foon Yew High School in Kulai, Johor, punished his class by making them run 30 laps around the volleyball court
The incident happened on 11 May because several students did not complete their homework, reported China Press.
A female student started to feel unwell and experienced heart palpitations after running 15 rounds. Due to that, she was allowed to walk the remaining 15.
When the student returned home from school, she complained about breathing difficulties and chest pains.
In a Facebook post by the student's aunt, the girl's heart rate had shot up to 200bpm when she was rushed to the hospital
Before being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), the aunt shared that her niece "had to undergo a cardioversion procedure for a few seconds in order to help regulate her heart rate."
In the now-deleted Facebook post, the student's mother questioned why the entire class was subjected to the punishment when only a few students had failed to complete their homework.
This made her doubt the teacher's disciplinary methods.
The mother had many questions for the school, one of them being, "Why tell them to run when they could have just easily walked?"
Despite disagreeing with the punishment, the school claims that there was a misunderstanding
8world News reported that the school originally denied the claim that the PE teacher told the students to keep their mask on and were allowed to walk if they were feeling unwell.
However, the student's mother said her daughter told her otherwise.
The mother added that her daughter is not an athlete and has stayed home for the most part of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Hence, for the teacher to expect her daughter to endure such intense physical activity all of a sudden was unreasonable.
The mother also said that her daughter is not delicate and not above being punished, but she believes that there is a certain extent to the punishment given.
"When I learned that my daughter had to undergo cardioversion, my heart 'died' too!" the mother commented.
The Facebook post attracted many concerned parents who expressed their frustrations towards the school.
The school's principal, Ng Fui Choo, said that the teacher has realised the error in his disciplinary method and has issued an apology to the parents
The school has advised for the parents to submit a letter regarding the student's health condition.
She will be allowed to use the elevator instead of taking the stairs and be excused from participating in any vigorous activities.
Furthermore, it would inform the PE teacher and co-curricular teacher to observe and keep track of her health condition.
The parents have decided to settle the issue with the school peacefully and have decided not to continue with the matter any further.
