Dear Editor,
There is an ongoing poll in your daily, ‘Is the rustication of all Class 9 and 10 students of VKV, Sher, justified?’
However, the pertinent question to ask in this case is, why does such situation occur? Why are children at such a young age prone to violence? How to avoid such a situation, and what steps can be taken to avoid such happenings?
Whether the authorities were right or wrong is a different question, but the fact of the matter is that the step they have taken might act as a deterrent for a while, but it’s not a sustainable solution.
While it does ensure positive behavioural changes among those punished, there is a need to take effective steps to provide counselling to the students, and to make the student-teacher interactions not as a ruler and the ruled but as friends who need to be encouraged. Also, a platform should be created for student-parent-teacher interactions, and followed in a systematic and timely manner.
In addition to the roles of the authorities, the families of the children need to make extra effort. Family is the first institution of socialization, so it has a great impact on the children. Parents should give time to their children, try to understand their views and needs, and continuously evaluate the emotional needs and growth of their children. Also, parents should monitor the activities of their children and supervise and train and guide them with affection and love.
The recent act of the students lies somewhere between hooliganism and criminal delinquency, but still there is time to change their mindset. Young students are our future, and their mistakes need to be corrected and they need to be reformed, not to be punished so harshly to compromise on their future; else they might become victims of what is called the broken windows theory.
Such issues involving young children are delicate and need to be dealt with care. Any knee-jerk action would make the situation worse in the long run. So, along with the punishment, they should be provided with some options to correct themselves, thereby giving them a chance to realize their mistake.
Sincerely,
Nyatum Doke,
Likabali