‘DISCIPLINE’- A LOST ATTRIBUTE AMONG STUDENTS.

How would you feel as a teacher when your students define ‘CCE’ as a system where you can’t fail them and ‘RTE’ an act where you can’t punish them? How would you feel when you intend to give the most of what you have yet what you receive in return are nasty accusations and worthless mockery? It amazes me when I often find a lady colleague walking out of her class with tears rolling down her eyes, or when I see a male teacher returning to the staff-room in sheer despondency, and when I try to find out the reason I, land up with the same answer- INDISCIPLINE AMONG STUDENTS. It is a known fact that school staff-room has been a place where issues are discussed more fervently than what they are actually discussed in a parliament. One such common topic discussed in every school staff- room would include “indiscipline among the students”. The remedy to this burning problem is indeed much more intricate than as suggested in my Bed. text books or other relevant guidelines. Therefore, it has turned out to be a matter which requires a deep contemplation.

 It is evident that our educationist has left no stone unturned in formulating the right educational policy that would favor the students. Moreover, the present education policies are usually student oriented, taking care of every nook and corner of the students’ physical and mental potentialities that are ought to be nurtured and enhanced by the teachers. A country spends a large portion of its budget on education, sanguine of their future prospects. The recently implemented child centered policy “CCE”, Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation and “RTE” Right to Free and Compulsory Education, is itself evident that, laws are either formed or amended for the welfare of the students. However, giving a closer insight as to how our students have benefited, and evaluating the fruit that they yield from all the efforts put in, one would rather not be content.

Indiscipline among the students has become a major challenge for teachers in the current scenario. For, the news of teacher harassment, disobeying of school norms and aggressiveness nature of the students, are not unheard, these has rather become something the teachers confront every day. On this regard, I always evoke an educational seminar, where one of the elite delegates, had opined that just as the strength of a building depends upon the strength of four pillars supporting it, likewise, the future of a student depends on four factors- the teachers, the parents/guardians, the society and the Government. If any one of these factors fails to share its responsibilities, it is certain that the future of the students is doomed.

The teachers play a major role in shaping the life of students. Apart from simplifying his content in the classroom teaching, his responsibility is to help the student in all sphere of his student life. It is very important for a teacher to understand the psychology of the student before dealing with any of the accused. With every passing year, the teacher becomes more adamant to the new trends prevailing in the society; as such he deliberately loses his tolerance to cope up with the new scenario. Therefore, it is important for the teachers to upgrade himself frequently.     

Parents, by far are considered to be the most influential factor in the life of a student. They not only bestow genetic character but also create environment which would determine the child’s future. It should be understood that simply lavishing their lads with money and sophisticated gadgets or sending them to good boarding school cannot be considered as an ultimate remedy. Parents and guardians should be conscious about student’s whereabouts, and always find time to spend with them. Moreover, there are many illiterate parents who finds hard to cope with their child expectation, but a good communication between the parents and the children or open sharing of problems could positively be an aid to develop affinity between them.

Society is another factor which helps cater diverse temperaments in students. A child grown-up in a healthy environment of the society would probably turn out to be a man possessing good temperament, whereas a child deprived from the ethics of a good society would certainly turn out to be no better than a thug.

Government also plays a key role in orienting the education policy and enforcing them in the form of a system. However, mere formulating of policies are not enough to meet the needs of the students. Apart from sustainability of plans, a good infrastructure is always a complimentary factor to portray a student to a noble form. Numerous researches have concluded that improper classroom management, with insufficient desk and benches, dull wall paints, crowded classroom and location of the school, also contributes to create distraction among the students and eventually distracting the teachers. Effective programmes could be conducted in order to orient the students about the new educational policies, so that they can value the significance of CCE and RTE, much more than just treating it as a genie to rescue from punishments and exams.

I believe, there are numerous factors undervalued by us that contribute to indiscipline among students. The responsibility of creating a benevolent citizen out of a plain student should not be summoned upon teachers alone, it must be realized that responsibilities befalls on every individual to nourish them with virtues of humanity, to hold them every time they falter as they march towards their journey of life. No qualities can flourish unless it is carefully projected. So let us join our hands together to strengthen the wings of these budding souls and guarantee their flight to the zenith of success.