Are teachers really scared of imposing discipline in class even though the cardinal principle of discipline is central to a good teaching and environment in schools?
On the surface, off the cuff,I would say,"No". Every good teacher knows that. Without a measure of discipline in class,you just cannot teach.
So, why is indiscipline a major issue these days?
The most obvious reason is politics.It has crept into the classroom to instill fear into the teachers.Parents do not see two sides of the story. They do not emphatise with the teachers.
They only see their children that 'could do no wrong'. Their negative retaliation are oftentimes unfounded. Then you have the 'golden child' of politicians in class that must be given that arm's length treatment as far as punishment goes. They are the untouchables. A new culture emerges when teachers know that they will get no where disciplining unruly students these days. Apart from the parents, you may get the backlash from students who are wont to vandalise your car or even beat you outside the school compound.
Yes, you can say that again.Gone are the days when children are afraid of telling their parents about the punishment they received in school, for fear of being scolded at home.
A casual talk to retired will give you an insight ointo the more “relaxed” attitude in disciplining students amongst teachers today.
Many years ago, there used to be pin-drop silence in classrooms on report card day. Today, teachers and parents struggle to hear each other over the chaos caused by noisy students.
Teachers don't do much except say, "keep quiet!" and this, too, is usually ignored.There is just no respect for teachers even in class.
I had the rare privilege of attending report card day when my son was at school. Not only was the din created unbearable but also a bunch of students were gambling right under the very nose of the teacher! Imagine that!
Today, potential fears of litigation emanates the air. There will be no such punishment like standing on the chair.What if the child should fall? What happens if a child starts vomiting after he or she is made to run around the school field as punishment?
Then we have the new gurus who will say that such punishments represents mental torture and lowers the
self-esteem of students in front of their peers.
You hardly hear of students being punished by the pulling of ears or the rapping of hands or knuckles.
During staff meetings, teachers are told not to touch the students. If there is a problem,it should be the principal who handles things. This is the usual advice, especially to new male teachers who may get angry very fast. Students can be corrected verbally "without using harsh word,"
Principles will always caution teachers that proper guidelines should be followed when disciplining students.
The rules may differ from one school to another. Basically, teachers can take action but they must follow the rules. For instance, girls are not to be hit with the rod. Boys who have disciplinary problems should be warned a few times and their parents consulted. If there are still problems, they can be caned in the headmaster or discipline master's room, but never in public.
All warnings, be it verbal, should be recorded officially.Whenever there are action that needs the police
to intervene,they also asked that step-by-step administrative rulings be conducted first.
Retired teachers say the method of disciplining now is different for a number of reasons.
Firstly,the current system does little to support teachers.
If a teacher takes action against a child who has misbehaved, there is usually someone who files a complaint, resulting in the teacher being demoralised. Discipline has not deteriorated over the years, but interference from outside has increased. That's why some teachers have adopted a tidak apa (don't care) approach.
Teachers are also under a lot of pressure. Most teachers have to move between six classes of 40 students each, that is a total of 240 different minds to handle. Some schools have over 3,000 students. How do you control that?
"There needs to be a separate department to handle registration and disciplinary issues. A teacher's task is to impart knowledge, not to stand at the front gate to catch students who come late or penalise those who are not wearing name tags."
Some retired principals are of the opinion that problems in schools have not changed, but the nature of discipline has.
Normal offenses such as stealing, gangsterism, cheating during exams, destroying property,truancy and distribution of porn have been around for decades, but now it's more widespread.
Moreover, these days,students are indisciplined in a more sophisticated way. Their minds and hearts have not changed, but they have become bolder.
There are many factors contributing to this and the problem is "almost irreparable".
The social scenario in schools is evolving. Everything is exam-oriented, sometimes at the expense of discipline. Many teachers focus their attention on academic results instead of moral values. Often, discipline is left to the disciplinary board when it should be the duty of every teacher.
Parents, media and the Internet are also partly to blame for the rise in school disciplinary problems.
Many parents have neglected teaching their children on the importance of social etiquette.
Children are not taught to respect their elders or property, causing many to be rebellious.
There is also an increasing number of parents who criticise teachers in front of their children. Calling teachers bodoh (stupid) causes children to lose respect for teachers. Many websites and television programmes don't teach good values. As a result, children are more boisterous and answer back."
If this is so, should discipline methods be more "harsh"?
Major Tarlochan Singh,a counsellor, believes that the emotional well-being of a child should always be taken into account.
He believes punishment should be based on the severity of the problem. Caning should only be carried out
if the child has done something really bad.
Furthermore, parents should be notified based on proof and they must be informed of the type of
punishment. I believe that punishment should be done in a controlled environment. Done by correct people and in the right setting, the punishment will be accepted by the child and parents."
As we can see, the process of disciplining takes a long time. It has become bureaucratic and fraught with possible litigation,political interference as well as office politics.
It is little wonder why teachers do not want to impose discipline. Why should they?
