Should MPs intervene in school discipline?
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Lately, I was made aware of two troubling instances where MPs intervened in favour of defiant students. Briefly outlining the two cases:
The first involved a student who has a history of defiance. Throughout the year, she already accumulated numerous defiantce and violent offenses but she finally crossed the line and assaulted a female teacher, leaving marks on the teacherÂ’s body. She was punished and made to promise, together with her parents that she would leave the school if she broke another rule. Less than a week later, her friend and her cornered a younger girl and repeatedly slapped her in full view of the school. After being caught, she still threatened to beat that girl up after school. She was asked to leave.
The next was a student who repeatedly played truant. Sometimes disappearing for weeks. Even his parents did not know where he went. When he was in school, he assaulted another student. For exams, his teachers had to call him every morning to remind him but still he missed half of his papers. Sent for counseling, he defaulted all sessions but two. Finally, he was asked to leave.
So what did they do? They went to see their MPs, who ruled in their favour and wrote helpful letters on their behalves. What troubles me is this:
1. Do the MPs know what kind of students they are helping?
Inevitably, when parents see the MP, they would not portray the offences of their children in full detail. Isn’t it prudent and wise for MPs to check with the school first? I heard from friends that in such cases, the schools were labeled as being “uncompassionate” and the offenders as “victims”. The school was neither consulted nor had its records on the students examined before a decision was made in favour of the offender.
2. What does the MPs action imply?
Since the MPs do not check the background of the student with the school before he/she dole out ‘compassion’, does it imply that the MPs do not trust or give due credibility to the school? Don’t they realize that schools do not remove students without very good reasons? By siding with these recalcitrant children, the MPs had given these students a reason to be bolder because they know that the school can’t touch them because they have their MP’s backing. Does it sound far-fetch that children would see it that way? Those who have any association with today’s youths and parents know that it not unlikely at all. A school’s authority is severely undermined when MPs try to intervene in its discipline decisions.
3. What about the welfare of the rest of the students?
These students, as mentioned posed a threat to the other students who really want to learn. While I agree that compassion is an ingredient of education, so is discipline. Compassion should be extended to repentant students, not those who do not cherish their opportunity to learn and those who posed a threat to other students. Without discipline, a school cannot teach. It also could not ensure the safety of its students. I wonder what would an MP do if a parent would appeal to the MP to pressure a school to remove a bully? Probably it would be shunted back to the school as an ‘internal’ matter.
Schools could try all they want to keep the discipline, ensure learning and good upbringing but its efforts are defeated because students and parents know they could bring a greater authority to bear on the school to get their way.
Any reason why a parent would want to rein in his children's behavior in school if he knows that the school can be overruled?
What do you think will happen to our youths?
Would we go the way of Japan?
Thoughts and comments please. -
well, if those idiots continue not to study, they just ruin their future and the police will rope them to prison sooner or later. in a small country where intelligence gathering will be very easy, how far can u do b4 the police knocks on ur door ?
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why is it MPs have the power to intevene in the first place?
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u should write to the straits times forum...
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Ehhh... how much does the letter helps ? If they immediately become reinstated, then I it is really too much and u should write to ST forums.
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The letters from what I know is written to MOE. And then MOE leans on the school to reinstate the kids. I am not sure whether the principal has the final say or not, but with so many bigwigs leaning on him, i doubt they can fight it. Just look at the Nanchiau incident, MOE will rather side a liar who dared to kick up a public fuss over a man who gave them more than 20 years of his life. What more do you think MOE will do when it is an MP who comes barking at them?
perhaps those who know of similar cases could share how it actually goes. i'm sure its not isolated to the 2 cases i know of. -
Can't they just expel the girl again?
Again.
Again.
And again, if needed. -
buarecracy ...
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MP want ppl to support them mah...will try to look good by helping anyone (even scumbags)
So long as the person not given Death Penalty...MP can still be useful
Afterall, they will not get the blame...and all they have to do is type a letter to sent to the relevant authorities......
somemore the letters not they type one...they just sign...
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x2...Originally posted by oldbreadstinks:why is it MPs have the power to intevene in the first place? -
I feel tat MPs shd nt intervene at all... Even if they shd, they shd have a meeting with the principal & listen to y did the student gt expelled in the first place.
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They cannot 'intervene' with the process. It is just a letter of appeal. But normally, with such a letter of appeal, the school will just relent. After all, you don't want the MP to look bad and 'powerless'. Especially if the MP is your school's patron.Originally posted by oldbreadstinks:why is it MPs have the power to intevene in the first place?
The school principal is given autonomy to decide on expulsion and such. MOE seldom directly countermands the school principal...but if your supervisor asks you to 'give him some face', would you ? Especially as he's the one who decides if you get your superscale the next year ? Sometimes you don't need to over-ride to get things done.
There are many things happening around us that occurs out of black and white laws and rules. Welcome to the real world, buddy. -
which one is easierand faster??Originally posted by weidev:I feel tat MPs shd nt intervene at all... Even if they shd, they shd have a meeting with the principal & listen to y did the student gt expelled in the first place.
1)meet and listen to the principal's story
2)print out a standard letter from his c: drive, and sign it?
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There is a rational behind it:
Keep the kid in check.
Put him on the streets, the gangsters will check him out and recruit him.
Put him in school, the relevant authorities will (might!!! )
The holistic approach to education might be overlook at certain points in time when anger sets in.
MOE's position is simple... keep the kids in check... within the boundary of the limits.
I am sure the kid is now in check when MP is involved now, especially now cos reports has to reach MOE very frequently abt the behaviour of the boy... and tat boy should jolly well know he is under scrutiny ... by parents, teachers and councillors... and boys/girls home might be his next destination if he turns a deaf ear to all these. -
2)Originally posted by I-like-flings(m):which one is easierand faster??
1)meet and listen to the principal's story
2)print out a standard letter from his c: drive, and sign it?
which is y i don like PAP... -
nt necessarily... at most he/she don commit his/her crimes so openly...Originally posted by sgboy2004:There is a rational behind it:
Keep the kid in check.
Put him on the streets, the gangsters will check him out and recruit him.
Put him in school, the relevant authorities will (might!!! )
The holistic approach to education might be overlook at certain points in time when anger sets in.
MOE's position is simple... keep the kids in check... within the boundary of the limits.
I am sure the kid is now in check when MP is involved now, especially now cos reports has to reach MOE very frequently abt the behaviour of the boy... and tat boy should jolly well know he is under scrutiny ... by parents, teachers and councillors... and boys/girls home might be his next destination if he turns a deaf ear to all these. -
This is interesting.....I recalled the night when i saw Chan Soo Sen in the news and he exclaimed, "what if that girl is your own child? what would you do?". He was implying that if the 'victim' is our own flesh and blood, we would want the principal (who resigned) to leave or be punished...
Tell you guys what.....NEXT TIME if your parents are bed-ridden and hospital offended you, tell the health minister that "what if that old man is your own father? what would you do? would you not ask the bill to be waived and to do all that you can to save him?"......we all learn ministers' speeches very fast, don't we?
anyway i agree that MP should not GEH KHIANG comment anything.....just keep the mouth shut tightly (ISA-signed)....