FACULTY MEMBERS from the University of Santo Tomas (UST) have criticized Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro’s recent remarks on some teachers who allegedly taught their students to disrespect people, saying she had unfairly linked educators to school violence.
Reacting to the Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting last Tuesday, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. had ordered agencies to determine how to prevent similar incidents.
Castro, who earned both her undergraduate and law degrees at UST, cited the need for parents and educators to guide their students. She also criticized some teachers whom she claimed are breaking moral standards and are teaching learners to be disrespectful.
In response, some Thomasian professors argued that the government is deflecting accountability by blaming an already burdened education sector for deep-seated social issues.
In a social media post, Theology Asst. Prof. Gemma Aboy wrote, “Why blame the teachers for what our young [have] become? Why blame the school for what they have become?”
She argued that the roots of violent incidents run much deeper, pointing to parental influence and political culture rather than attributing it solely on classroom instructors.
Echoing the sentiment, History Assoc. Prof. Tyrone Nepomuceno said the education sector cannot be blamed solely for student violence in schools, as it involves shared responsibility.
“Teachers are parents’ collaborators, not sole burden bearers. Usec. Castro should apologize to teachers, teachers who are chronically drained by the burdens of the crisis-ridden basic education system in this country,” he said.
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines expressed support for educators in a Facebook post, saying that they mold children beyond academic abilities and holistic values.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers demanded an apology from Castro, describing her remarks as “reckless.”
Castro responds
In a Palace press briefing last Wednesday, Castro clarified that she never blamed teachers for the Ateneo de Zambonga shooting and claimed that her statements were taken out of context .
“I never said that they were at fault,” she said.
Castro said she would not disrespect educators as her late mother was a public school teacher.
The Palace press officer added that she did not malign educators and was only referring to some teachers who did not provide good examples to their students. She cited the teacher who went viral after asking his students to write negative descriptions about Marcos and the video of students who were badmouthing the President while he was in Davao City.
“Even if I repeat what I said, it was just a reminder that they are respected teachers who educate the youth about the right manners,” Castro said.
“I would like to clarify that this is not about blaming teachers. The point is to recognize their important role as second parents of learners…To the teachers, you are respected especially by the President and this administration.”
Reacting to Castro’s clarification, the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (CoTeSCUP) argued that the timing and context of her remarks “remain troubling.”
“We believe that the remarks were unfortunate and misplaced at a time when teachers, staff, students, and their families were confronting the trauma and consequences of violence within a school community,” CoTeSCUP said in a statement dated Aug. 20.
The coalition said public commentary from government officials should center on empathy and actions to prevent another tragedy. F
