If you are not familiar with the code of conduct that governs the work life of school teachers in India, you can’t make much sense of news items about the pressure under which teachers are fulfilling their extra-professional duty as “booth level officers” (BLOs). They are updating electoral rolls and preparing the final lists of eligible voters. The deadlines are stringent, the task is tough and demands accuracy. It has nothing to do with teaching. The stress caused by this is compounded by the risks involved in delay. Some of the teachers doing this work are reported to have fallen sick and died.

Teachers and parents are often blamed for the stress and anxiety among children, but stress among teachers is seldom acknowledged. It is a common belief that teaching is a leisurely job. Equally common is the perception that government school teachers don’t work as hard as their counterparts in private schools. That’s why no one questions the use of government school teachers for election duty. Children who study in government schools........

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