By Lilian Owaga- Author and Creative Writer

What type of student were you during your school years? Do you pass as the most disciplined, or do you fall under the category of the mischievous? Perhaps you have found yourself on the wrong side of institutional rules a few times? Were you ever wrongly accused of a mistake you never committed and ended up paying dearly? Maybe you happened to be in the wrong place with a wrong group at the wrong time, yet you were always a good student, but you nevertheless got punished? And finally, how were your parents/guardians and teachers handling indiscipline?

Sometimes it is difficult to avoid being found on the wrong side of the school rules. You know those moments during study times, when you just turn to ask for a pen from your classmate sitting behind you, then it happens to be the very moment that the teacher on duty was making his/her rounds.

The teacher only needs to pronounce your full names steadily before motioning you to step out of the class, and that is how you end up spending the entire night or dawn frog-jumping for being a one-time noise maker!

When Students Decide to be Mischievous

Yet there were moments that you deliberately chose to be mischievous, thinking that you would get away with it, like hiding somewhere within the school when the entire school attended Sunday Church Service, and a teacher randomly finds you or a fellow student sets you up.

Did you ever feign sickness just to be sent back home? Do you have vivid memories of moments when you were mercilessly flogged justly or unjustly? Maybe you left school with permanent grudges towards some teachers. What comparison and differences stands out between your school days and today?

Safety of Students in Schools

In a period of two months, four cases of the safety and well-being of students in school have sparked the public’s attention. Just a month ago, a case was reported of a student at Kiongwani Girls’ High School, whose final exam’s fate was at stake after being suspended due to three packets of chewing gum.

The student had apparently been found in possession of the packets during inspection.

Even after admitting her mistake as a result of forgetfulness, the school administration still went ahead to suspend and instruct her to buy her schoolmates, 580 students each, an equal number of chewing gums found in her bag, amounting to Ksh16,800, as a penalty; failure to which she would not be allowed back to school.

It is so surprising how a matter of three packets of chewing gum is taken so seriously to the extent of risking throwing away a student’s entire future into the pits!

One week ago, another serious matter caught the interest of the public when two sisters from Kenana Primary School in Nakuru County were ashamed in front of the staff for lacking undergarments.

The minors who were definitely emotionally disturbed admitted the difficulty they found in going back to school after being mocked by a female teacher in the presence of male teachers.

Just the other day, on October 1st, a fifteen-year-old grade eight student at Gongoni Primary School in Kilifi county was reported dead after being hit on the head by a teacher as an alleged corporal punishment.

The student was rushed to the hospital but succumbed due to a blood haemorrhage into the brain.

Yet again, some hours later, another grade seven student at St Mary’s Mosocho in Kisii county was reported to have collapsed in class and lost his life.

Yet, these are just a few of such cases, for the headlines have been full of reports of students who have been savagely beaten by teachers in the guise of corporal punishment and other cases of harassment.

In the cases of sudden death of students, one would be left to question the diligence of teachers and whether it is as a result of negligence, since students sometimes raise concerns over their health only to be brushed off and dismissed as pretence, excuses, exam fever, homesickness and such reasons.

This is how most teachers have ignored serious health concerns,s which have ended up claiming the lives of students.

Yet the painful part is always when the parents or guardians are left in the dark, the matter postponed until the said administration finds a proper way of sweeping the filth under the carpet, to remain only with ‘reasons’ to which they can attach to the consequences.

It is really annoying to witness such sad instances.

If one teacher is bullying a pupil on one end, the other one is flogging another student, even to death.

Children are terrified of school. They return home with horrifying bruises; one would think schools have turned into battlefields where students, unfortunately, find themselves in combat with teachers.

It would be just fitting to conclude that teachers have become opponents and not mentors.

Of course, not all teachers are being accused and branded as malicious. And even when we rise to condemn the atrocities, we are obliged also to consider these very malicious teachers.

Perhaps they have psychological issues, but dear teachers, why would you extend your anger to poor, innocent children?

Societies and the country have advanced in mental health issues whereby help is found very readily; all you have to do is knock at the doors, and not the physical, emotional and social well-being of your students.

Parents Trusting Teachers

It takes a lot of courage for a parent to entrust the safety of their children to the hands of teachers.

And it is a great betrayal on your part as a teacher when, instead of returning this child enlightened and mentored, you return them emotionally wrecked, physically wounded, socially unstable and worst, utterly lifeless!

Indeed, school rules must be adhered to, and no student should be allowed to indulge in mischief.

Call for Action

Actions must be taken and punishment unleashed, but not in a manner that destroys the student.

Teachers and the entire school administration should be considerate in matters of handling students’ mischief. Spare the rod, yes, and spoil the child, but without destroying her!

Education CS Julius Ogamba speaking at past event. PHOTO/ Education News