A recent teachers' survey showed an increase in negative behaviour in schools. Emphasis was made on the failure of the home environment to provide moral values.

To balance the argument, it has been reported that teachers also contribute to students' negative behaviour as, for example, when a female teacher has her bellybutton on display. Proper dress is essential.

However, one should consider that male teachers don't display their bellybuttons and still deal with unruly children. Children with moral values and respect still behave properly in front of improperly dressed teachers.

The vast majority of misbehaving children have a 'history' of misbehaviour and misbehave in nearly all classes, regardless of the teacher's sex or fashion sense.

One of the general tendencies in such cases of unruly children is that they either have a parent who actually supports the child's misbehaviour or is at a loss on how to deal with it, sometimes even looking for a scapegoat (a teacher or whole school, perhaps?)

What about bullying? Are teachers to blame for that? Let's not overlook the fact that school violence is a worldwide phenomenon.

As a concerned parent with school-age children, instead of casting blame one on the other, a way should be found to deal with these 'bad apples' once and for all so they won't spoil the whole bunch and allow our children to exercise their right to an education.