When Silence Hurts

To the girl who hides her tears behind her textbooks, 

To the boy who walks slower past that classroom, 

To the child who wonders if it’s worth speaking at all 

Know this: YOU MATTER. 

Your pain is real. Your story deserves to be heard. 

And the world is not silent anymore. This is for you. 

There is something revered about the sight of a child walking into school, optimism in her eyes, dreams in her bag, innocence in her heart and joy in her voice. A school is preordained to be her subsequent home, a space of progress, happiness, and discovery.

But in the secluded corners of whiteboards and school benches, behind seemingly disciplined surroundings and ‘reputable’ uniforms, there often lurks a silence far more perilous than noise.

This silence of bright, young minds that hide horror behind forced smiles, disgrace behind fake excuses, and suffering behind top grades.

Under the layers of moral guardianship, it is the silence of abuse, often verbal, physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional. The perpetrator is not always a stranger, not always a shadow in the backstreet.

Sometimes, it’s a teacher with a kind face, a mentor with a soft voice, a counselor with great help or a parent full of affection. Sometimes, it’s the silence of those who watch and say nothing. These dismissed, cancelled and suppressed experiences leave lasting scars.

In the blessed corridors of learning, one would expect a setting of safety, affection, encouragement, and care. Yet there occurs a frightening and mainly unspoken epidemic, the manipulation, abuse and harassment of children by those trusted with their well-being and edification.

Two recent incidents; one in a girls’ school in Bhadarwah, another involving a brave young girl’s FB post who chose to break years of silence, reflect the disturbing reality of the same school, exposed. These are not exceptions.

These are indicators of a profound systemic neglect, where authority is left unchecked and children are left unprotected. They signify a design entrenched in power misused and structures that often fail to guard the vulnerable.

Harassment doesn’t always look like violence. Sometimes, it’s the constant humiliation in front of classmates. Sometimes, it’s being asked intentionally difficult questions just to be made to fail.

Sometimes, it’s an unsympathetic silence meant to isolate. Other times, it’s the kind of touch that leaves a scar no eye can see, no CCTV can capture. Children are often told to stay quiet, to “adjust,” to not “create a scene.” But every time we tell a child to be silent about something that harms her, we show her that her pain doesn’t matter.

No abuse takes place in seclusion. When schools become unsafe, it is not just because of one abuser; it is because of a culture of silence, neglect, and support. Every adult in a school is accountable, not just the culprit but the silent observer, the principal who dismisses the complaint, the staff who whispers, “Let it be.”

The Principal is the first line of defense. S/he is not just an administrator; they are the custodian of the institution’s ethical and physical integrity. If a child says s/he feels unsafe, the response should be trusting and supporting.

A principal must enforce child protection policies rigorously, listen without judgment and act immediately without bias or delay, and create an open-door culture, where students feel comfortable approaching the leadership with grievances.

When a principal turns a blind eye, defends abusers’ conduct, or prioritizes the school’s reputation over a child’s safety, they fail not only the pupil but the very purpose of education.

Teachers are entrusted with a child’s body, mind, and soul. The role of a teacher is not just to teach, it is to build confidence, compassion, and courage. They should notice signs of distress and be the adult a child can trust.

Teachers must know when to speak up on a child’s behalf and when to back a child. A teacher must never use fear as a teaching tool, never shout, shame, or touch a child inappropriately or belittle students for poor performance or non-orthodoxy (they are for new times).

Teachers must remember that their authority is not a weapon but a responsibility. They must support students who report abuse, not discourage them or push for silence. When teachers become mute spectators or an abuser, they erode the trust that forms the foundation of learning.

Even the guard at the gate, the peon in the hallway, the sweeper in the corridor, the cook in the MDM kitchen, physical educator in the assembly and playfield or teachers’ assistant in the lab, are part of a child’s school experience.

Every such adult in a school is part of the safety net. If even one thread wanes, the entire network is compromised.

When a Student Faces Abuse: What Should S/he Do?

To every girl reading this: you are not alone. What is happening to you is not your fault. You deserve to feel safe, to speak, to be heard. If you or any other student faces harassment, bullying, inappropriate touching, lewd remarks, threats, or emotional manipulation within a school or personal text messages instead of official group chats, here’s what you should do:

1. Recognise and Trust Your Instincts: If something feels wrong, if someone’s actions or words make you uncomfortable. It is wrong. Don’t cancel your feelings.
2. Speak Up to a Trusted Adult: Find someone you trust. Whether it’s a parent, a kind teacher, a school counselor or an elder sibling, tell someone. Describe the situation clearly. Don’t carry it alone.
3. Write it Down: Keep a record of what happened, dates, times, names, incidents. If possible, keep screenshots, messages, or any evidence. This helps when you need to report it.
4. Report It in School: Every school must have a Child Protection Committee or Internal Complaints Committee. Submit your complaint there. Schools are bound to act. If they do not act, you still have options.
5. Take It Outside If Needed: If the school fails, approach the police, especially the Child Welfare Police Officer (CWPO). The POCSO Act (2012) protects anyone under 18 from sexual abuse and ensures a child-friendly justice process.
6. Call the Childline 1098: This is a 24-hour emergency helpline for children in distress. You will receive counseling, legal aid, and support to report abuse.
7. Use the POCSO E-Box: It’s an online platform where you can safely report abuse without revealing your name.
8. Reach Out to Local Women’s Groups or Child Rights Activists: There are people in every community who care. Who will help you fight. Find them.

When a girl breaks her silence, she should not be met with doubt, guilt, or indifference. She should be heard, trusted, supported, and protected. It is time we stop burdening our children with silence in the name of dignity. Real dignity lies in standing up for truth, in demanding accountability from those who hold power and in making sure that no child has to fear school.

Constitution of our country provides every child the Right to Life with Dignity (Article 21), the Right to Education (Article 21A) which mandates a safe environment for children, and protection from abuse (Article 39e and f), POCSO Act (2012) which protects children from sexual offenses, and Juvenile Justice Act (2015) which Protects vulnerable children and penalizes institutions for negligence.

All schools must follow the guideline laid by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Educational Training Institutions like SCERT and DIETs must organize regular training Programmes for all teaching and non-teaching staff on identifying and preventing abuse.

Teachers should be trained in trauma-informed pedagogy, enabling them to recognize signs of distress in children. The School Education Department must conduct anonymous student safety audits, letting children express how safe they feel in their environments.

Chief Education Officers must ensure dove tailing with the health department to create mental health support systems, with counselors available for regular sessions and also encourage student-led safety committees that can escalate concerns.

We must revamp schools not just as places of academic learning but as safe, nurturing ecosystems. Schools must change from the Inside Out. Let’s not wait for another girl to break.

Let us not wait for another child to lose trust in the adults around her. This Change will begin with listening. It will continue with action. And it will be sustained by compassion.

We must train our teachers to teach with empathy, not ego. We must give our students a voice and protect that voice when it trembles. We must make accountability non-negotiable.

No more cover-ups. No more silent staff rooms. Let us modify our schools from spaces of trauma to sanctuaries of safety. Let us pledge that no child will be forced to carry their pain alone in silence.

Let us ensure that education is not just about success, but also about happiness, security, support, and self-respect. Let us no longer ask our daughters to endure in silence. Let us no longer turn our faces away when our children whisper their pain.

When a girl dares to speak up, she is not inviting shame, she is showing courage for generations to come. Let us embrace her voice with reverence, not doubt.

Let us build institutions where truth is not disciplined or penalized, where dignity is not traded for silence and shame, and where every student can walk with their head high, knowing they are seen, heard, trusted and loved.

If we want to be good educators, responsible communities and compassionate humans who have to face their Creator on the day of Judgment, then let this be our promise, “Never again will a child be left alone in the dark.” Let us be the generation that finally says, “No child will be harmed on our watch. Not one more.”

The author is posted as Senior Lecturer School Education Department