Many members of the public and parents of students in particular expressed deep concern when a teacher, along with some other adults and several students, was arrested on Monday and charged with being in possession of instruments fit for unlawful purposes. It was understandable for parents to be worried when they learned some teachers in Hong Kong not only encouraged their students to join illegal assemblies where violence abounds, but also enlisted students in illegal activities that put the youngsters in life-threatening situations, such as handling incendiary or explosive devices. That is why parents expect the special administrative region government, particularly the Education Bureau, to take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of their children, especially when many teachers and school administrators cannot be trusted to do so.

The Hong Kong Police Force revealed on Monday that over 6,000 individuals have been arrested for various offenses since the anti-government campaign began in mid-June, and over 2,300 of the arrested have been students. Granted, most of them are college students above the age of 18, which means they are young adults capable of assuming responsibility for their own actions. But that does not relieve teachers and school officials of the responsibilities that come with their jobs. As for primary- and secondary-school teachers and administrators, their responsibilities as educators are more demanding simply because their students are minors. They are required to teach students not just basic knowledge, but morals that will guide them as law-abiding citizens in life. To do so, teachers and school administrators, as well as parents, are expected to set as good an example for the younger generation as they can at all times.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong society has been made well-aware of the existence of quite a few unscrupulous teachers and school administrators who allow their political beliefs to override their moral obligations. They have not only condoned the illegal acts of their students participating in the anti-government campaign over the past six months, but actually encouraged them to do so for the sake of their own political objectives. By sacrificing their students’ well-being and future just for their own political gains, these so-called educators are not only guilty of willful dereliction of duty, but also have become so morally corrupt that they are no longer fit to be teachers.

The teacher arrested on Monday is not the first one who is suspected of misconduct in the past six months. The Education Bureau has launched 106 investigations into suspected breaches of professional ethics by teachers and schools in relation to the current social unrest between the middle of June and early November. It should step up the investigation process and take punitive actions as soon as possible. The bureau is reminded that it enjoys parents’ full support in rooting out those unscrupulous teachers who have made their students a tool in political maneuvers.