In the days of old, parents were strict disciplinarians who did not brook any cheek or defiance. If one were to complain about one’s teacher giving one the cane in class, one would be given another dose of it at home. Teachers were highly respected and parents trusted them to give their off spring a good education and being disciplined was part and parcel of the process.
However, these days, students are more apathetic towards their studies and show a lack of concern if they do not fare well in their exams. They are known to disrupt the class when their teachers are trying to teach something in the front of the classroom. Homework is not handed in and teachers are not accorded the due respect. Is it any wonder that teachers become lackadaisical as well, since their efforts are not appreciated?
Should they discipline the students, the furor of the parents would descend on them. This situation appears to be the norm these days. Hence the lack of discipline, lack of parental guidance lead the students to stray. Gangsterism, bullying, dropping out of school and substance abuse result. Gang fights and violence have led to grievous injuries among the victims, with some culminating in death.
Is there a way out of this malaise? The minority of students who wish to study are deprived of a conducive atmosphere to do so and the teachers are demoralized. Elementary school students are still managaeable but once they enter secondary school, problems begin to take root.
Parents and teachers need to come together to hammer out a solution to curb and nip problems in the bud, before they escalate beyond control. The school heads need to pull everyone together to save the schools from becoming a fertile breeding ground for potential criminals.
