Spare the rod
- By The Rambler
- Published 18th April, 2008
Students' behaviour on the school premises and outside is achieving serious, intolerable proportions and giving rise to much concern. With a view to assessing the gravity of the situation and finding ways to address the problem, the Federation of Managers of Private Secondary Schools organized a two-day workshop earlier this week.
The Federation invited three resource persons from India, three psychologists working with young people, to conduct the workshop. Dr. Samir Parikh, Dr. Megha Hasurai Gore and Dr. Geetika Kapoor dealt with the themes: Identification and understanding of emotional/behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents; Punishment v/s Discipline: a positive approach to behaviour management; A pro-social approach: are we on the same page?
It is to be noted that indiscipline among students is not a new phenomenon. It is probably as old as the schools. Its measure of gravity and seriousness only reflects the age and period in which it occurs. As far back as in the 1950s pupils of the Royal Colleges were reported to have vandalized the train compartments in which they were travelling. Damaging teachers' cars and school property were occurrences even then, albeit few
and far between.
One point worth mentioning is the declaration made at the workshop by Mr. Harold Chan Lam, the Vice-President of the Federation, to the effect that indiscipline was more alarming in Government schools than in the private institutions. The state schools normally admit the best performing students, and they are the greenhouses where the elite of the society are churned.
Maybe the government school authorities are not empowered to deal with matters of indiscipline at their own institutions.
The workshop, which brought together the managers of the private secondary sector has been a bright initiative of the Federation and it is hoped that it will have come up with a few solid proposals.
But it would be a sheer blunder to believe that school discipline, or students' behaviour, is a matter that concerns only the school authority. Many parents think that it is the role of the school to deal with problems of indiscipline, and whenever their own children are reprimanded, they quickly resort to reprisals – even physically attacking the school personnel.
One thing has been noted though. Students behave badly only in classes that are boring, drab and without interest, conducted by teachers who would perhaps be performing better elsewhere.
The Federation invited three resource persons from India, three psychologists working with young people, to conduct the workshop. Dr. Samir Parikh, Dr. Megha Hasurai Gore and Dr. Geetika Kapoor dealt with the themes: Identification and understanding of emotional/behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents; Punishment v/s Discipline: a positive approach to behaviour management; A pro-social approach: are we on the same page?
It is to be noted that indiscipline among students is not a new phenomenon. It is probably as old as the schools. Its measure of gravity and seriousness only reflects the age and period in which it occurs. As far back as in the 1950s pupils of the Royal Colleges were reported to have vandalized the train compartments in which they were travelling. Damaging teachers' cars and school property were occurrences even then, albeit few
One point worth mentioning is the declaration made at the workshop by Mr. Harold Chan Lam, the Vice-President of the Federation, to the effect that indiscipline was more alarming in Government schools than in the private institutions. The state schools normally admit the best performing students, and they are the greenhouses where the elite of the society are churned.
Maybe the government school authorities are not empowered to deal with matters of indiscipline at their own institutions.
The workshop, which brought together the managers of the private secondary sector has been a bright initiative of the Federation and it is hoped that it will have come up with a few solid proposals.
But it would be a sheer blunder to believe that school discipline, or students' behaviour, is a matter that concerns only the school authority. Many parents think that it is the role of the school to deal with problems of indiscipline, and whenever their own children are reprimanded, they quickly resort to reprisals – even physically attacking the school personnel.
One thing has been noted though. Students behave badly only in classes that are boring, drab and without interest, conducted by teachers who would perhaps be performing better elsewhere.
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1 Response to "Spare the rod" 
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said this on 28 May 2008 3:28:44 PM MUT
Hi! What an important topic raised! Thanks! Please, allow me to add some of my views and comments:
As far as the parents are concerned; they should be more attentive and comprehensive towards their children. No time! Sorry, but all these are excuses ... We have to make time for them. Parents also need to be in direct or indirect contact with the teachers and rectors; enabling feedbacks and thus avoiding any misunderstanding. Charity begins at home! So well said, hence children tend to be what the parents are. Parents need to be "educated" via social centres or NGOs; enabling follow-ups at home. As far as school and colleges are concerned all the members of the educational institutions need to 'always bear in mind' the different stages of a child's growth, e.g. adolescent's crisis etc ... Different age groups behave differently ... so they need different treatment and approach. Sorry a lot to say and I don't want to take much of your time. Thank you very much. |
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