Dubai: Disciplining ill-mannered students has become a major talking point following the emergence of online videos earlier this year showing teachers violently hitting students in UAE schools.
The shocking imagery has reinvigorated debate on bringing disruptive children to order in the interests of the child and society at large.
A first online video, published on the night of October 13, saw a sixth-grader being repeatedly slapped by a teacher in an Ajman school on his head and neck.
Only two days later, another video showing a laboratory assistant kicking and hitting a student in an Al Ain school emerged. It was then followed by a third video two days later showing a teacher in a Fujairah school punishing a pupil by raining blows to the head.
While most UAE residents who viewed the video were appalled by the teachers’ actions, others believed the teachers were provoked by students who do not respond to typical forms of discipline.
To learn more about what was the right way to deal with stubborn students who do not respond to disciplinary actions like detention or suspension, ‘Gulf News’ interviewed experts, who said educators must first find the root cause of the problem.
Three main reasons:
Dr Saliha Afridi, Clinical Psychologist and Managing Director at Lighthouse Arabia, highlighted three main reasons to why a student might not respond to discipline: “Family environment — some children grow up in a home environment that is devoid of discipline, structure, or expectations. If the school and home environment are so different the child will not likely comply and be seen as defiant. It is imperative that parents work on creating a home environment that is consistent with the school environment,” she said.
Another main reason, Dr Saliha said, is defiance.
She said some children actually have a disorder called oppositional defiance disorder. This is characterised by children who consistently are argumentative, uncooperative, defiant, and disobedient towards adults and authority figures. These children need family and individual therapy in order to treat their defiance.
“There can also be indication of deeper-lying issues like learning problems, or emotional problems- if a child has really dug his/her heels in and is not ‘budging’ or responding to any discipline- then it could be that there is something more going on like learning problems, or emotional problems that he/she is covering up for by being defiant in the face of discipline.”
Experts share the correct way to deal with students who don’t respond to discipline
Side bar
Educators interviewed by Gulf News shared their opinion on what the right way to deal with students who don’t respond to discipline.
Sarah Thomas, education leader at Taleem’s Raha International School, said school leaders should set clear expectations of student behaviour and have precise processes for discipline in place.
“Consistency is key, and strong school leaders will ensure teachers apply these steps at all times. This will lead to students feeling they are fairly treated and teachers feel supported and know how to react in difficult situations,” she said.
Thomas said another way of ensuring good behaviour is for teachers to nurture and build positive relationships with their students.
“Ultimately students want to feel that their teachers care about them and their education,” she said.
Ashok Kumar, CEO of Indian High School, said if a child behaves obstinately in class, the teacher shouldn’t get into a conflict or a tiff with the child which evolves into a power struggle.
“The teacher should have a one-on-one talk with him/ her to understand the reason for the behaviour. Instead of focusing on the negative behaviour, the child’s strengths are pointed out. The teacher may have to be firm but will always be kind so as to cultivate mutual respect,” he said.
In case the behaviour persists, the teacher schedules a meeting with the parents to know if there is anything at home that could have triggered such behaviour he said.
Kulbhushan Kain, Principal, Credence High School in Dubai, said counselling is the ideal strategy to be adopted under the circumstances.
“I don’t believe any teacher can have the luxury of being provoked. We are in the task of educating and being violent has no role to play in the process. Instead students need to be sat down and spoken to in an environment that evokes trust and confidence in them. Schools need to identify and address the root cause of the problem rather than the manifestation of the problem,” he said.
Kain said the parent must be taken on board when dealing with a rebellious child because if the strategy applied by the school is contradicted at home, then the child will be confused.
