Public too eager to play the role of judge and jury

WHILE SEEKING public opinions on some middle-school employees in its jurisdiction, whom it is recommending for the title of senior-level teachers, Minhang district education bureau in Shanghai received reports from the public that one of the candidates attacked a doctor during a medical dispute in Shanghai in 2015. Yanzhao Metropolis Daily commented on Monday:

In response to people's concerns, the bureau said the medical dispute case had been settled and its investigation showed the teacher does not have any problems with her professional ethics.

The authority's decision has prevented the teacher, who has good teaching record, from being kidnapped by public opinion.

It is right to require senior-level teachers to have comparatively higher moral standards so as to set good examples for students. But that does not mean that a good teacher has to be a saint and have no human shortcomings.

If a person has a propensity for violence, he or she would not pass the examination to obtain the qualification to work as a teacher.

The teacher has received her due punishment for her impulsive action in the hospital that day according to law.

And she took the initiative to withdraw her application for a hukou, or household residential registration, in Shanghai because of the pressure of public opinion in 2016.

The public has neither the right nor the power to put her on never-ending trial for a wrong for which she has already paid the price.