THE GRADUAL DECLINE OF STUDENT DISCIPLINE

LARRY JUN R. LOBO

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has just recently reminded teachers to teach the concept of respect to their students. She highlighted the necessity for respect during these changing times. She said that it is important to instill respect among learners as they express their views on sensitive issues like religion, gender, and race.

Netizens over social media shared their two cents how disappointed they had been to see the youth of today lack respect and discipline. Some people even thought that teachers lacked effort in teaching respect and disciplining students. Some even claimed that the “hope of the motherland” had become disrespectful brats who only know how to cover their hides in strange “hypebeast” fashion and the like. Teachers tried to defend their turf, saying that teaching respect and imposing discipline had always been part of their daily lesson routine. They also noted that discipline and values formation of children start at home.

Yet, it is simply a no-brainer for many people nowadays to opine that the youth today have regressed significantly in terms of discipline. This displeasing fact can easily be deduced by comparing the learners of the present generation with to the learners of the past. It is just saddening that there are people who attribute the existence of this fact to the seemingly ineffective approaches of teachers in the disciplining process employed in schools.

One could not help but hear from dear lolos and lolas recalling how they would remain still and silent on their seats once their teacher enters the classroom. Titos and titas also had their stories to tell about the time when their teachers would hit their dirty fingers with a stick so as to remind them to cut their nails and to behave properly in class. Not to forget the “flying notebooks”, the “face the wall”, the “kurot-singit”, and the pulling of the “patilya” approaches of seasoned classroom teachers who were either adored or despised by their pupils. Such disciplinary approaches are no longer applicable to the present generation due to the Child Protection Policy imposed by the Department of Education and the existing provisions against child abuse under Republic Act 7610.

True enough; teachers have continuously evolved their approaches in teaching respect and imposing discipline to learners. Values integration in all subjects and counselling misbehaving students are some of the approaches done at present. Teachers have been encouraged to use positive discipline techniques. The uniqueness of every generation of learners has truly required teachers to be more versatile, adaptable, and patient. May teachers receive more support in their quest for the betterment of the youth and the battle against the lack of student discipline. As the adage goes, “It takes a whole village to raise and educate a child.” Everyone should be reminded that disciplining and teaching respect to children should not be left only to teachers at school, but should also be done by parents and the whole community.

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The author is OIC-Master Teacher I at Air Force City Elementary School ( AFCES)