We have recently come across a number of incidents where schools in the quest of disciplining their students have crossed their limits. From hitting with a cane brutally to humiliating a student, how right are schools in doing so? Is corporal punishment the only way of dealing with mischievous kids?
On February 12, 2010 Rouvanjit Rawla committed suicide by hanging himself, the reason being constant humiliation by his teachers. School memories are something that stays with us throughout our life, whether they are good or bad. School is an institution that we look upon as our second home and teachers are people who are supposed to inspire us and correct us whenever we are wrong. But correcting doesn’t mean a punishment so bad that it drives someone to suicide! Why do schools forget that we all make mistakes and spanking is not the only way of stopping a person from doing them? Good words, good understanding and counseling go a long way in dealing with mischievous kids. Punishing a child will only make him more rebellious and ignorant or in some cases the child may land up in depression which may have severe consequences.
By writing all this I don’t mean to say that schools are to be blamed always, there are situations where kids tend to be beyond control but as grown ups we need to be patient. We weren’t perfect ourselves when we were kids, it’s only with time that we get matured. Teachers need to be more understanding and patient, because kids look up to them as their ideals and we definitely don’t want angry face, always humiliating and punishing role models. I was lucky to have teachers who accepted me as I am and who highlighted my strengths and helped me overcome my weaknesses. Teachers nowadays perceive teaching only as an income providing job and not as a thing they are passionate about and hence a little mistake on the student’s front and teachers lose their patience. The real teachers are the one’s teaching in special schools, where inspite of so many mistakes done by their students, each day, the teachers never give up. After all a good teacher makes a good student.
Lastly, if schools or in that case even parents understand their child’s needs, do not burden him/her with their high expectations and do not subject him to harsh punishments I guess a lot of cases like that of Rouvanjit can be put to an end!
