Question
In many countries, schools have severe problems with student behaviour.
What do you think are the causes of this?
What solutions can you suggest?
Answer
In many parts of the world, student discipline is becoming a major issue that teachers, parents, and
school administrators have to deal with. This essay will first look at the reasons why this is
happening, and then explore solutions for it.
The primary reason for this increase in bad behaviour is the lack of respect for teachers in western
society since the late twentieth century, which is partly due to the emphasis placed upon personal
freedoms and individual rights. With massive cultural upheaval, the role of a teacher has diminished,
and school pupils can run amok. Nowadays, teachers are powerless to stop their students from
misbehaving in the classroom, and what is worse is that they are afraid of the consequences of being
firm in their disciplinary procedures. When teachers are deemed to be too strict, parents will
complain and it is possible that the teacher could lose their job.
In order to solve this, great changes will need to be made. For a start, a teacher’s authority needs to
be established, and this means making changes that reduce the likelihood of their position being
questioned. From misbehaving pupils to unreasonable parents, there needs to be support for the
teacher from above. This sort of institutional help has been missing for decades as education
becomes more of a service industry wherein “the customer” is always right. Schools need to
implement firm but fair rules that all pupils must abide by and there should be equally firm but fair
punishments meted out accordingly.
In conclusion, discipline problems are now common in many schools, and that is because teachers
are no longer given the respect they are due. Schools and government authorities need to work to
reinforce the importance of respecting teachers.
