THE recent uproar concerning student discipline in our schools has not settled as yet given the complexity of the issues raised and debated. This matter cannot be taken lightly since schools are places where our future generations are moulded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although academic achievement is important, it alone is not sufficient for the creation of a truly balanced individual – one who has the ability to contribute positively to the nation’s future success and prosperity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideally, teachers need to be seen not only being more knowledgeable than students but also better in every aspect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without knowledge and respect from students it is unthinkable that the teachers could really perform their job in the true sense of the word. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These days, however, the teaching profession is not as colourful as it used to be considering the fact that teachers of older generations were much more respected than their contemporary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, teachers are generally viewed as individuals at the bottom of the professional hierarchy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Compared to other professionals whose sons and daughters they teach, our teachers are low in terms of both salary and social standing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, it is not uncommon to hear reports about teachers being scolded or sued by parents for no good reason. Sad to say, we have also heard reports about some headmasters and principals who, in their over-zealousness to improve performance in their schools, employ certain students to become informers to report on teachers’ conduct or pass judgments on them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This kind of attitude is unwarranted as far as the ethics of student-teacher relationships are concerned, as it would further belittle the position of the teachers in the eyes of their students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without doubt, teachers of our time have lost their dignity due to factors that are generally not of their own making. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is such that some of them have altogether lost confidence even in themselves, especially when dealing with disciplinary cases involving problem students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To solve this problem, ways need to be explored to boost teachers’ dignity and confidence, including possible introduction of better pay and allowances or incentives, where and when necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Re-introduction of caning cannot be ruled out in our efforts to strengthen teachers’ authority to deal with indiscipline amongst students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is also true to say that morality in our schools is at its lowest level now than ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not only are many of us talking about the lack of morality amongst students but also the failure of teachers to serve as role models for their students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To remedy this situation, the marking system for academic subjects needs to be reformed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should include moral components as part of a general marking scheme for each and every subject. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This could be done by allocating up to 20% of the total marks for each subject as “good behaviour” marks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this way, we ensure that the term “good students” refers to those who also have good morals and behaviour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the current practice of teaching morality or religion as an independent subject could still be continued, this proposal means that teachers of other subjects must also have concern for morality and good behaviour amongst their students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To fully achieve this objective, they must act as good role models for their students lest the students treat them with contempt and disrespect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In line with this approach, the task of maintaining discipline and a high standard of morality could no longer be left exclusively to the religious, moral and discipline teachers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another way is to make it mandatory for parents of problem students to pay “behaviour bonds” as surety so that any subsequent misbehaviour by the students concerned might lead to the money being forfeited by the schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this way, parents could be taught to pay enough attention to their children’s behaviour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will, hopefully, change the attitude of some parents who view it entirely the duty of schools and teachers to
educate their children, forgetting the fact that education actually begins at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
School location also sometimes contributes to indiscipline amongst students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they are on their way to school, for instance, many of them are open to possible unwanted attractions in the vicinity or surrounding areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, the location factor must be duly considered when new schools are planned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best thing would be to build schools near to students’ places of residence so that it would minimise the possibility of them being influenced by bad culture en-route to schools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, things are normally easier said than done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The surest approach is for both parents and teachers to play their roles hand in hand to educate the children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is not enough to have beautiful schools and complete infrastructure when there is no true desire within these two sections of our society to educate our children in the best possible manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best forum or venue for both parents and teachers to discuss and plan necessary actions to maintain discipline among students is the parent-teacher association. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The society at large must also provide them with the necessary support and co-operation for the sake of our future generations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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