Discipline deficit matters

Sir, – There appears to be a distinct absence of discipline pervading through the modern society. Politeness and respect are at their lowest level and in particular in schools.

Teachers are subjected to abuse, both verbal and physical, on a daily basis and pupils increasingly seem to be oblivious to the needs of learning and advancing towards a career and maturity.

Thus control in classrooms is at a low ebb with few sanctions available to our teachers. The ban on the belt has only led to a downward spiral in terms of compliance and behaviour and we ask where is its substitute?

Detention is largely frowned upon and the writing of lines can be ignored at will.

In any functioning society parameters are essential, and in the past children knew exactly the lines of demarcation to observe and were content and indeed comfortable functioning within them.

All that has changed

and not to the betterment. There is now a trend to banish even simple physical chastisement in the home, which if ignored inevitably will be followed by prosecution, leading to the criminalisation of parents.

It is ever argued that discussion and simple psychology should be used instead and children prevailed upon to behave, but many will choose not to listen and any bad behaviour will continue.

Should this trend not be reversed one can visualise that within a short period of time people may hesitate in pursuing teaching as a career and then where will we be?

David L Thomson. Laurence Park, Kinglassie.