Torched dorms: Blaming parents is a way of dodging responsibility

Students of Itierio Boys High School have been condemned and vilified for torching their dormitories. As parents come to terms with this appalling actions, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has directed that they should pay for the losses.

No sir, you are wrong on this one!

It is the school’s insensitivity, arrogance and irresponsibility that led to this unfortunate incident. No parent was present cheering or fuelling the flames!

Truth be told, failure to address students’ needs creates resentment, conflict and chaos. Teachers and administrators are trained to anticipate and respond to conflicts and provide a timely and effective intervention to deter inappropriate behaviour.

Euro 2016 was not an accident but an event that students had been anticipating for long — an opportunity to watch their favourite stars. It was Cristiano Ronaldo's team, for God’s sake! Schools cannot ignore this “need” on the pretext of instilling discipline and routine.

Teachers have power and authority over students, and society dictates that the child conform to these norms. However, they have no authority to suppress the emotions of learners. Not the modern child!

OUTDATED THINKING

Times have changed, but it seems schools have been left behind.
Our children are now well exposed to the outside world and they are very much aware of national and international events, some of which they have personal interests in.
For instance, the English Premier League, Fifa World Cup, X-factor, Tusker Project Fame, et cetera, are some of events that are widely followed by many teenagers and Euro 2016 is no exception. You cannot purport to be concerned about students’ academic progress if you pay little attention to their social and emotional needs.
American psychiatrist William Glasser said students are rational beings who can control their actions; they can choose to behave well or inappropriately.
They are not objects just to obey rules and write exams! Teachers and administrators have the responsibility of providing an environment and conditions that support learners to make good choices.

Yes, they know burning dormitories and destroying property was wrong, but the prevailing conditions at Itierio on that fateful night evoked frustration, anger and a comrade-spirit of “haki yetu”.

BAD TIMING
What I have read in newspapers shows that the problem was not lack of facilities to show the match but the timing of the event, which did not fit in the school schedule.

What did the school do on realizing some matches would be played late into the night? Did they counsel students on time before imposing the ban? Did they involve students in making decisions?

Why didn’t they record late-night matches so that the students could watch them during the day? The administrators knew the ban would not please the students but they ignored the potential backlash. The whole afternoon, students were anxious but no one cared. From 8pm students started shouting but police were not notified!

Are we asking parents to pay the cost of being parents? Did parents incite or provoke students? Did they send their children to burn the dorms?
How are parents responsible for the fires? As long as we don’t address these issues and reflect on our policies, the cycle of violence in Kenyan schools will continue. Shifting blame to parents is dodging accountability and responsibility.

Onthuga Lawrence is a high school teacher in Qatar; email: [email protected]