Older people often complain that the behaviour of young people today is different from what it used to be in years gone by. They argue that the younger generation have little respect for authority, whether this is exercised by parents in the home or by teachers in schools.
One can easily write off such comments as being the usual negative outbursts by grumpy old men and women.
However, incidents that have been reported in the last several months in the media show that the bullying of teachers by students, as well as their parents, is a disturbing reality in the educational system. Thus, the announcement by the Minister of Education that the educational authorities will be revising the schools’ code of conduct is a most welcome move.
Today’s younger generations are rightly jealous of their rights. But they often are less aware that rights bring with them responsibilities and duties. One such duty is that of respect for authority. In the context of education, the authority is often represented by teachers and school administrators.
It is sad to hear that the police are investigating a case where a lecturer at the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology received a death threat. Even if less dramatic, teachers are continuously being sexually harassed, bullied and ridiculed by students or their parents. This can only add the stress levels of these professional people who are often so little appreciated by society.
Many have the mistaken impression that teaching is a cushy job where pampered teachers spend a few hours every day dealing with children and then enjoying long periods of holidays. Reality, of course, is quite different.
Most teachers and lecturers work as hard as any other professional person. Even if, at times, they are not feeling quite well, they have to face a class of rowdy ill-behaved students because their timetable demands that they do so. Stress levels among the teaching profession are not lower than those experienced in other professions.
A modern schools’ code of discipline should aim to strike a good balance between students’, parents’ and teachers’ rights and responsibilities.
No one is promoting the return of corporal punishment in schools. However, it is in the interest of society to teach children that the entitlement to rights is intrinsically woven with the duty of respect to authority.
Once again, it must be stressed that parents need to be involved in this process as much as students and educators. Parents have the greatest influence on the behaviour of their children, especially in the early years of life. It is simply unacceptable that teachers should be on the receiving end of foul language from primary-aged schoolchildren.
The teaching profession must be given the dignity it deserves because, sadly, it is often perceived as the Cinderella of the professions. Although work conditions have improved, more needs to be done to support the teaching profession, though a lot depends on teachers themselves.
The educational authorities and the police need to take immediate action to curb physical and moral violence committed against teachers whether this is instigated by students or their parents.
Similarly, bullying among students should under no circumstances be treated lightly by school administrators.
The teachers unions’ must be vigilant to ensure that such problems are nipped in the bud.
Now that there seems to be the political will to curb abuse of whatever type against teachers, it is essential that the review process of the schools’ code of conduct involves all stakeholders.