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ON REFLECTION: 'If I did anything differently in the past, I would not have been able to touch the lives of other students, who have told me how much I have helped them in their lives.' - MR WILLIAM DING -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
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THOUGH his closeness with students had fuelled a torrent of sexual-abuse allegations, former teacher William Ding has no regrets about trying to bond with his charges.
After being cleared of the accusations yesterday following a three-year legal battle, the 36-year-old said it was his duty to get involved in the lives of his students.
The case, however, has raised questions about how far a teacher should go to help his students.
'Teachers should draw a line between their professional and personal work,' said Ngee Ann Secondary's principal Chua Chor Huat.
'There are enough avenues out there to help students. Teachers don't have to invite them to their homes.'
Mr Ding, a physics teacher, was accused of, among other things, groping a boy's buttocks and massaging another's groin. His 80-day trial shed some light on how he conducted himself around his students.
During a hostel stay, he shared a bed with boys. On another occasion, a group stayed at his home, where he lives with his parents, after a tuition session.
Mr Ding, who has continually maintained his innocence, said he had no regrets about his behaviour.
'I have always been passionate about my work and feel that a teacher should be involved in not only the academic aspect of a student's life,' he said.
He had been a teacher since 1997, but left the profession late last year.
'If I did anything differently in the past, I would not have been able to touch the lives of other students who have told me how much I have helped them in their lives,' said Mr Ding.
He added that those outside the profession seldom understand how many roles a teacher juggles.
'For me, in order to mould a child's future, you have to be more involved in their lives. That's why I work with their parents as well,' said Mr Ding.
Teachers and principals agreed that being involved in students' lives would help motivate them academically.
But they drew the line at physical contact and regular after-school get-togethers.
Said Mr Chua: 'Teachers should try to keep things either in school or in public.'
If teachers want to help students after hours, they should go to the school grounds or a public place, said principals.
Mr Chua said even teachers with the best intentions could find themselves in compromising situations.
Physical contact is always discouraged and schools have a general rule that during overnight events, such as camping and chalet outings, teachers and students must sleep in separate rooms.
Teachers also said that while they sometimes invite students over during festive occasions, home visits are not the norm.
Teachers who want to build a rapport with students should do so in groups and in public places, they added.
Mr Ding, who has a heart condition, said he tutored his students at his home so that his parents did not have to worry about him. When the students did not have any means of transport home late at night, he invited them to spend the night there.
'With hindsight, I've realised that some students do not appreciate teachers getting so involved in their personal lives,' he said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY APRIL CHONG
mariaa@sph.com.sg
wycin@sph.com.sg
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