IIPM Admission 2010

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Master's voice: Discipline can't be imposed


IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri: The New Age Woman

Corporal punishment can't be condoned but teachers need options to tame unruly students

SP Srivastava
Principal, DAV ACC Public School, Kymore, Katni

When I had joined school more than two decades back, circumstances and situations were altogether different from what things have become today. Earlier, students used to truly respect their teachers. Teachers used to command immense respect in the larger society as well. That was teaching's golden period. Since then, the society has undergone a tremendous transformation. Nowadays, the teacher-student relationship has become commercial. Teachers see a student more as a commodity than as a student. This statement, of course, cannot be held in generalisation as there are lot of teachers even these days who regard students as their responsibilities and who really care for their well-being. However, it is difficult to deny that moral values have changed now and nobody is unaffected by this wave of change. In our days those teachers who were stricter used to get more respect. Students could not even dare to complain about teachers to their parents.

Corporal punishment cannot be supported at all. Beating a child cannot solve his or her problems. However, there are certain things which need to be understood properly. For example, understanding science obviously demands an aptitude suited for the discipline. Parents force children to study science. The teacher understands that the student does not have the aptitude but he is helpless. As a result, he is compelled to force the student to study science more and in the process he might end up punishing him or her.

In our times, 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' was the universal truth. Nowadays, the concept has completely changed. Educationists agree that corporal punishment should not be condoned. I do agree with the point of view that physical punishment cannot do any good to any student. What is more important is to make a student realise his mistake. This can be done by other means too.

In a class of 50 to 60 students, it is certain that three to four students will be wild enough to destroy the atmosphere of the class. It is equally true that nobody can make them realise their mistakes, they are simply not ready to accept they are wrong. In such a situation, what should be the reaction from a teacher who is under immense pressure to finish the syllabus on time? These children enjoy at the cost of other students. Teachers must have options and alternatives to deal with such students. There are also students who take private tutions, they do not pay attention in class and thus destroy the quality time of other students. These days parents have become more possessive of their children as most have only one or two children. So they fear for their kids. They become more insecure. When they come to know that the teacher has punished their son/daughter, they immediately rush to the school and complain to the school administration. When a teacher is warned in front of parents he feels humiliated and later becomes indifferent to students. This is a scary scenario. The future of a child depends much on the taecher and if the teacher becomes indifferent to them, their overall growth suffers.

Incidents of corporal punishments are now widely reported in the media. There is hardly a day when we do not find such reports in newspapers or on the news channels. However, mediapersons fail to understand the gravity of the matter and they usually file biased reports in which the teacher is the perennial villain and the student the victim. They should go a bit deeper into the matter and should be able to differentiate on a case to case basis.

I feel, amidst the clamour for complete ban on corporal punishment, maintaining discipline in school is becoming increasingly problematic. Students, these days, are very smart. They know very well that teachers cannot punish them, he is teethless.

This situation encourages him to take undue advantage of the situation. Discipline cannnot be imposed, it comes from within. The need of the hour is to internalise the process of discipline and education simultaneously. Parents cannot shirk away from their responsibilities. They should devote time so that their children can share their feelings.

I fully accept that children should not be punished for silly reasons. Even the Central Board of Secondary Education has categorically stated that corporal punishment should be banned in schools.

But teachers must have options to tame unruly children.

I believe in positive action. Instead of beating the children, they can be asked to work in the garden or collect waste from the school campus. This way they will learn important lessons in life.

An Initiative of IIPM, Malay Chaudhuri and Arindam chaudhuri (Renowned Management Guru and Economist).

For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
Run after passion and not money, says Arindam Chaudhuri
Award Conferred To Irom Chanu Sharmila By IIPM

Prof Rajita Chaudhuri follow some off-beat trends like organizing make up sessions
IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri's Snaps
IIPM Prof Arindam Chaudhuri on Our Parliament and Parliamentarians' Work

No comments: