Dubai: Educators, parents and students say discipline in schools can have no impact if it was implemented incorrectly.
Children spend more time in school than home, so it was no surprise when parents, students and educators interviewed by Gulf News unanimously agreed it was necessary that discipline was maintained in a proper way.
They stressed it may not always be effective if it was overdone, underdone or unfair.
“My school exaggerated when it comes to detention,” said Lebanese Ayah Mohammad, a graduate at a Shajrah school. She recalled her school days to give an example.
“They gave detention for every little thing. If you spoke in class, forgot your pen, pencil, rubber and even if you chewed gum — you get a detention. I got so many detentions, it had no effect on me and other students. In fact we got used to it and even started enjoying it,” she said.
Ayah said in one of her school years, she accumulated over 70 after-school and lunchtime detentions. “Even my mother got used to me being in detention.”
While maintaining discipline was necessary, Ayah said it shouldn’t be overdone to the point it has no effect.
Mohammad Ahmad, a high school student from Dubai on the other hand said while his school constantly threatens to discipline him and his classmates, they seldom do. “We know they are empty threats, so we would never take them seriously. Unless you do something really big, you can get away with almost everything,” he said.
Grade nine student Karam Ayesh, who goes to a school in Abu Dhabi, said his school and teachers are always unfair when it came to discipline.
“They don’t listen to our explanation; they just hurry in punishing us, which is why I resent them. In many cases I have an explanation for why I am late or why I was speaking in class. I think they should be more understanding, because I am not learning anything and I just hate them.”
Hania Jardaneh, principal of Ittihad Private School’s Mamzar branch believes detention is least effective way to discipline children because children eventually get used to it. She believes taking away an activity or object they like and making deals with students is more effective.
“For example if they do something wrong, we would make a deal with them that we will not inform their parents about it, provided they promise not to repeat the mistake again. It is not about punishing them; the whole point is improving their behaviour.”
CEO of Indian High School Ashok Kumar on the other hand believed counselling is the most effective discipline method in schools.
“We first try to resolve concerns or issues with the child, through counselling, if there is still any misbehaviour on part of the student, we involve the parents and concerned authorities, while helping the child understand [the gravity] of his actions.”
According to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), UAE law does not permit corporal punishment of any kind.
Clive Pierrepont, Director of school communications at Taleem Schools said school discipline in most cases is effective so long as students understand why measures or sanctions are being taken and any punishment helps build not break the relationship with the school.
“We believe in giving students time to reflect on what has gone wrong. We do not call it detention because there can be a positive aspect. All students make mistakes and they should be given the opportunity to reflect and rehabilitate because the important aspect of any incident is the opportunity to learn positive lessons from what may have been a very negative experience.”
All school principals interviewed said cases were student actions called for serious action were taken up with the concerned education authority.
Parents said in order for school discipline to work, it is important they [parents] cooperate and teach the same behavioural values at home.
Jordanian May Al Khatib, mother of three said she supported her daughter’s school in giving detentions when she was late to school, even though it wasn’t her fault.
“She was late to class because of her brother, so her teacher gave her a detention. Though I tried to get it cancelled by explaining to the school, in front of her I supported their decision and showed her that I took it seriously so she herself would take it seriously in future.”
Palestinian mother of five, Manal Waleed, also agreed it is important to cooperate with the school.
“You should work as a team with the school when it comes to both academic and behavioural issues for school discipline to be effective. I would support the school decisions when they are fair and never belittle my children. ”
