By Katlego Sekhu
A number of Kenyan teachers are calling on authorities to reinstate corporal punishment in the classrooms so that teachers can be firmer on misbehaving learners.
Skhumba shares: “I was scared of the principal, he was the only principal I know who warned us to stop being late and one day half of the school was late. He took the sjambok and lashed all of us.
“We can’t even tell our kids to put their phones down these days. I could never do that in my childhood because my mom would never allow it,” he expressed.
“Do you think teachers still have meaningful authority in class? And, outside of corporal punishment, what would you say is the most effective way to deal with misbehaving learners in a classroom?” Asked Thomas and Skhumba on the morning show.
A listener shares: “I’m saying no, it must not come back and as for teachers, they still have the upper hand in classes. The problem is the teachers right now – they are busy making TikTok videos with learners and expect them to be disciplined. Our teachers didn’t even smile at us.”
Another listener disagrees with the above statement. “I think the teachers don’t have authority anymore, the general discussion around careers – there are certain careers in our society that we don’t value anymore. For example at home we don’t teach our kids to value certain professions and respect is lost there.”
Reactions from listeners on social media:
I think the schools are to blame if you have rules and standard you must enforce them cause remember these kids come into your school #ThomasAndSkhumba
— Pontsho Radise (@PontshoRadise) April 20, 2022
My 10 year old nephew back chats to the teacher and he does it in IsiXhosa abashiye abelungu bengamva noba uthini. When the school sent a letter wafumananiswqzi kuMakhulu wakhe and he didn’t stop his behavior until I spoke with him #ThomasAndSkhumba pic.twitter.com/HxPG01sNnD
— Mntano Mntlane (@LMkonqo) April 20, 2022
Besides corporal punishment there’s nothing will decipline learners in class, in our days in school we respected our teachers but this young generation iyoh…! double trouble. i think expelling the learner also could decipline them.#ThomasAndSkhumba
— MthandeniWitte5 (@MthandeniWitte5) April 20, 2022
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