On School Discipline

Being on time is a beautiful social ethic and one of great importance, as it creates effi ciency in systems and implies respect for one another. However, it is one of the many values that a school must inculcate into its students overtime.

Discipline is not something that must be slapped onto a child like handcuffs. Inner discipline, one that comes from within due to an understanding of the set rules and regulations, is the highest form of behaviour. Most excellent schools try to instill this with a loving environment.

Why, even adults arrive late to meetings, work, etc–admittedly shamefaced. Here, we are talking about children. Latecomers should not be shut out. They can be given warnings, most of which are enough to make them want to reach school on time. If this fails, talk to the parents. By closing its gates, the school is behaving cruelly and coldly–treatment to which we prefer not to expose our children.

Every school has a responsibility to implement educational concepts in the appropriate context, not just those schools that follow international standards and are generally unaffordable for the majority. Good schools create competitive students who can organise themselves effectively in society so that everyone gets a quality life as a result of ethics and values imbibed into students for as long as 12 years.

Children are precious, and are dependent on adults for guidance and we must not take advantage of this. Understanding them is the key, and to this end, both parents and schools must work hand in hand without playing the blame game.