…’We’ve left them to their craftiness’
…’Poor parenting destroying children’
Teachers are crying out their frustration over managing unruly pupils in the face of the ban on capital punishment in schools that is seen fueling undisciplined behaviours among children in Nigerian schools.
The teachers are worried that in a situation whereby a teacher is responsible for a child’s academic and moral upbringing in school but does not have the power to enforce disciplinary measures on such a child is pushing the educators into a difficult state, making them take a decision to leave the students to their craftiness.
Many teachers who spoke with BusinessDay, complained that pupils are doing various unimaginable immoral things that needed strong discipline to correct them, but for the ban.
Moreover, they say that some parents are giving fillip to the bad behaviours of their children to the point that any attempt to discipline the pupils in school attracts the ire of parents.
Blessing Ema, a teacher in Rivers State, said that the cancerous effects of students’ unruly behaviours in schools cannot be overemphasised.
“Parents are expecting schools to do magic for them, they’re relying on teachers to train their children for them.
“Many parents are not intentional about training their children in God’s way; they don’t take out time to pray with their children, teach the Bible and other moral principles such as obedience, hard work and standing for the truth, among others,” she said.
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Ema decried the rate at which students are becoming unruly in schools across the country, citing an instance how she had to confiscate four gadgets from students who went against the school rules of bringing gadgets to school.
“Today, we had some students who brought gadgets to school, and I have to confiscate four of those items, and I will punish the offenders tomorrow.
“The other day, I had to separate children from fighting in school, and this is against our school rules. Being a Christian school, we don’t encourage students to fight. Worse still, many of these parents would come after you if you dare discipline their children. The parents are not helping matters at all,” she said.
Gift Osikoya, a teacher in Lagos, said some of the contributing factors to this immoral behaviour are parenting styles, societal influences, and school environment, among others.
“There has been a shift toward more permissive parenting, leading to children who struggle with boundaries and respect for authority.
“Lack of consistent discipline at home can translate to behavioral issues in the classroom,” she said.
Besides, Osikoya said exposure to violence and aggression in the media can desensitise children and normalise disruptive behaviour as seen in schools today.
She expressed worries that many teachers are leaving the profession, as a result of these issues.
Sharing her experience, Amina Babatunde, a teacher in Ibadan, disclosed how a child in her class assaulted her and even removed her wig because she scolded him, and she was unable to do anything because of the ban.
“From a personal experience, my student once removed my wig because I scolded him, knowing that I was not allowed to use cane on students, and I resolved never to pay any attention to his learning outcomes, and to maintain my dignity, I resigned,” she said.
Bisola Iruafemi, a teacher in Lagos, said that some parents contribute to the unruly behaviour of pupils in schools.
“I think some parents contribute mostly to this problem. Do you know that when teachers are trying to correct some students, corporally or otherwise, some parents will even go to schools to abuse or even arrest teachers when their children are reprimanded?
“To make it worse, some school authorities support the parents so as not to stop their children from school. Majority of the students are into various drugs that influence their bad behaviours,” she noted.
Iruafemi called on the government to come to the aid of teachers by putting stern measures on unruly parents and students.
“Law enforcers should be introduced into various schools, both public and majorly private schools, to rescue teachers from these unruly students,” she advocated.
A school owner in Lagos, expressing his frustration, told BusinessDay that the immoral virus occasioned by the government’s directive against corporal punishment is fueling massive unruliness in students.
“Could you believe that in my school, some students secretly brought alcohol to the classroom to celebrate their mate’s birthday? If not for the CCTV and the fact that one of the students who saw them reported on time, you can imagine what they would have done after drinking the beer,” he said.
Iyabo Nnokam, a school owner, said it is an unfortunate situation, especially with some unruly ones having strong influence on others which would probably lead to an increase of the negatives.
“Students have lost respect for some teachers. They don’t feel threatened by disciplinary measures anymore. They no longer entertain fears of doing wrong such as improper dressing, lateness to school, missing classes, sneaking smart phones, talking rudely to teachers and even confronting them,” she said.
Besides, she said the most unfortunate thing is that some parents defend these students and even go as far as fighting or arresting teachers for disciplining their children.
“Some students are backed by their various cults to humiliate teachers who dare lay a finger on their member,” she noted.
However, she disclosed that in her school, the principal does not take any of these.
“He engaged the services of the police and private security agents as well as the community.
The town crier would announce the arrest of any students found outside after 8am. He also arrests students who come with friends or relatives to attack teachers or fellow students and have them expelled from the school. Those found in cults are also expelled,” she added.
