Gleaner Editor-in-Chief Garfield Grandison offers congratulations to Silver Pen awardee for March, Rennay Moore. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
The absence of corporal punishment in schools has been identified as one of the factors fuelling widespread indiscipline in the classroom.
This is the view of The Gleaner's Silver Pen recipient for March, Rennay Moore, whose letter, titled 'Who feels it knows, this teacher says', tells of challenges she faces as a teacher.
"Since corporal punishment has been removed or is seen as illegal, it's like the teachers have lost power. Removing this as a means of discipline, not abuse, is as if you are removing the motivation, because of I know if I do X and I'm going to be scolded for it, then I'm not going to want to do it," she told The Gleaner last Thursday.
Disciplinary problems
The letter, which was published on March 1, speaks about the disciplinary problems faced by Moore as a teacher and how parents and students are often involved in acts disrespecting teachers. Against this backdrop, Moore believes parents should become the fulcrum of their children's lives.
"The parents, I think, need to put in more effort in instilling discipline in their children because there is the challenge of disciplining them ... ," she said.
No help at home
Moore said what is taught at school is undone at home.
"So we say to them, don't use indecent language in public, but when they go home they are faced with it because persons around them use it," the teacher explained. "It's really a challenge, because ... you give them homework and there is nobody home with them to assist them, and the fact that you don't have parents taking an active part, calling to find out the development and the progress of their children."
Moore concludes by calling for collaboration between private- and public-sector agencies who are involved in teaching parental skills to make their services available to all.
"I know that there are agencies that promote parenting, but I'm not aware of all of these agencies ... There needs to be more of these agencies coming in place to teach parenting styles to teach them what to do," she said.
