The Standard: Should caning be re-introduced in school?

The standard, Kenya's second largest media house is running an opinion campaign on whether caning should be re-introduced in school in their twitter handle

Should canning be reintroduced in schools? https://t.co/yWkhuemav6 via @UreportKe pic.twitter.com/buuas42fU4

— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) July 10, 2016

Sambaza

As a teacher by profession, I would propose the decision to be made by stakeholders that include:

1. psychiatrists sand Psychologists because they understand human develoment
2. Ministry official because they have statistics
3. Teachers because they understand their students
4. Parents because they understand their children

• Before caning was banned, still students used to burn schools, bullying in schools was rampant; its not about caning, its more of psychological factors that I can link to examinations fever. Most students who lead these type of strikes are crooks who have not absolutely prepared for examinations that is why most strikes occur before MOCK examinations.
• Another cause may be tyranny in schools, most school heads and their deputies run schools as if they are in the era of 1940s, lack of consulting student bodies when making drastic changes that can affect how they live will most likely cause backlashes. We teachers should know that these kids have access to information and are enlighted even better than us. Communication breakdown can cause a well planned school to collapse in seconds
• Drugs is another factor but in this case, drugs becomes an excuse for students who have failed to plan for examinations. Because their consent cannot allow them to destroy they school while sober, they go for drugs to extract that courage
• Reflection of the society - Children are very good at emulating what they call role models. This is where parents, leaders, teachers and people who matter in the society come in. When a leader spats in public that Luos should quit Nakuru county for example will trigger the same response in schools where students will segregate according to their tribal affiliations, When an opposition leader leads people to demonstrate and then use stones to destroy other peoples property in the name of human rights, then you know that children will use stones, fire and violence so that they can be heard. We are subjects leadership from those guys who were university student leaders in 1980s and 1990s from James orengo, Moses Kuria and now Babu Owino with these brilliant exemplary leadership who needs to tell children to burn dormitories when they have eyes to see, history to learn and ears to hear?
• Examinations cheating is another factor. Every year, these students know that they will get that 'mwakenya' or buy exams from the streets for use. They used the same procedure in STD 8 and are expecting to do so this time; But Matiangi's stringent rules to curb exam cheating has hit reality that exam cheating this year will be next to obsolete. Our children have been caught off guard and we all understand frustrations and the outcomes are nothing other than what you see below

Therefore, these fires we see around are as a result of a reflection in our society and those torching dorms, will soon lead our institutions of integrity; Its when you know that this country is headed into obscurity of oblivion. Its the society we have worked hard to create.

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