Voices | The violence involving youth and children in our schools is reaching unprecedented levels. As this happens society is slipping into panic and desperation mode.
The suggestion that teachers should be allowed to carry guns in schools, ridiculous as it is, confirms the state of desperation and helplessness in our society. Society has not missed the opportunity to point fingers. The abolition of corporal punishment in schools has been blamed for this sad state of affairs.
Children do not chose their homes. It is the parents who chose the home for them. Parents set and determine the rules because they determine how they want to bring up their children. The bigger scheme of things is such that the interests of children come first in any decisions and actions taken which involve children.
Some people may argue that it is not possible to divorce the socio-economic problems from children and that these factors will continue to affect children and shape how they behave. These values shape the character of a child and enable parents whether at home or school, to develop and nurture children into responsible adults.
But this may just be a delusional proposition which ignores the real escalating damage that is being done to the children and the youth. Considering that children spend the greater part of their time at school, there cannot be any doubt that far better conditions at school can contribute significantly to shaping our children’s characters.
Over years, the government has opposed every single move to have binding norms and standards for school infrastructure. Whatever reasons the government has for its stance, this does not speak to the reality of what should be done to create a true learning and teaching environment. The high drop out and failure rates year in year out continue to contribute to the levels of poverty and illiteracy. The expectation that those who are already victims of what is clearly a failing system will see value in it is rather delusional.
It is here that the government should be putting more effort and resources to build the capacity of teachers, schools and children to resist these adverse conditions.
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