Discipline in education

The incident at Antipolo City where a student was allegedly slapped by his teacher is a point of discussion in the education sector today. Back then, it was considered a “norm” to discipline the students physically. I remember when I was in preschool, our teacher would pinch my classmate’s ear for being such a bully. That form of discipline made him somehow better and every time we reminisced about our old days, he would just laugh at how naughty he had been.

However, it is quite different today. There is a great emphasis on children’s rights as a safeguard to abuse. It is easy to lose one’s temper and hurt young learners. Teachers who are often overworked and underappreciated also lose their sense of identity, including their part in society. We understand that they are humans too but a line has to be drawn.

I still believe that the disciplining should be delegated to the household, from the beginning of the child’s nurturing years. The manners and basic values are inculcated during the time when they can understand what is right from wrong. Parents are duty-bound to explain to their children the consequences of not being good. The school, at this point, will only have to supplement whatever is learned at home. It will enhance values to make them better citizens.

We must also not forget the side of the teachers, as well. The Department of Education must find ways to unload and de-stress our educators. They have too much on their plate --from juggling multiple teaching loads, administrative tasks, and being mothers in their family. At times, they are make-up artists, stylists, nutritionists, and many more to their students. There should be programs to entice the teachers to stay in the country rather than going abroad. It must be the country’s priority.

While DepEd continues to grapple with several issues such as budget and disciplinary action, it remains to be steadfast. The teachers and DepEd officials try their best to keep their morale high despite the situation. This response is very rare and admirable. Amid the uncertainty and backlash, they continue to press on with no questions. They believe in their mandate to make the next generation literate, God-fearing, and patriotic.

As discussions on school discipline continue, we hope that the underlying factors will also be considered by those in authority. Our next generation needs all the support and love that it can get. The current generation is already stable enough to give it to others. We should treat others with kindness, so we can win them over.

I'm still thankful for the many times I was reprimanded by my teacher because it made me who I am today. Generations are different, so are approaches to ways to discipline. Disciplining is a field that constantly evolves due to how people also keep up with the times. May that incident never occur again and that teachers be properly compensated.