Bad behaviour and role models

The present behaviour problem in schools is a malady that is by no means new. Statistics indicate that it has escalated into an intolerable situation. That education stakeholders are acknowledging this factor is excellent.

Certainly we are also following advanced countries in the way that development often overlooks the crucial elements of social and spiritual needs of the population, leaving it to take care of itself.

Emphasis is made predominantly on the economic factor. The worst hit are children who do not have adequately defined role models of good and acceptable behaviour to follow. Even so, this is not the only factor which is contributing to an impoverished system of communication through which all social interactions operate. There are other social role models which unfortunate children sorely miss.

The culture of life, optimism and joy for children is slowly but surely being replaced with a culture of death, where vindictive motivation and obtaining the pound of flesh at all costs, even taking the law into one's own hands, is portrayed as justifiable behaviour, if not publicly, within the private enclaves from where children draw their behaviour patterns based on Christian values. Should we be surprised if children are absorbing our race for consumer icons and the ridicule of religious thought?

While policy-makers do their job we all have a social responsibility towards all children. We all have a moral obligation to guard children from the transmission of harmful behavioural patterns, to keep their environment morally healthy, even if it is not easy to clean our surroundings. Many of today's youth are recognising this fact and working towards it through substantially worthwhile NGOs.

To eradicate bullying in schools, suppressing the symptoms is not a good solution as these will re-emerge harsher and more forceful in due time. We must attack the pernicious roots which we know exist within our lifestyles and workplaces. Adult misbehaviour towards children should not be overlooked but identified and corrected.