As your thoughts resign to God's will, you hear a loud bang at the window. The glass pane goes all down. You think there's a mad person outside so straight away you decide he will pay through his nose. Then you hear the shout. "Get him cuffed or he gives us food." When you listen well, it’s your son's voice. "What does he mean and whom is he addressing?" you ask yourself. As you open the door, the boy stands in front of the house with his friends. Then he signals you to surrender.
You think it is a drama. Yet he's serious. The lad gives you a hot slap on your naked cheek. All the smiles vanish. Your temper rises likes Abu Dhabi temperatures. It rings to your mind that your son is either mad or disrespectful. You feel like strangling him. Then reason bounces back in your head, "I am the father and I should ask the teenager a right question."
Very soon you realize it is about food. An empty stomach is equivalent to an empty head. Did you read Feurbach? He says, "You are what you eat." What to do! You shake your head. You remember how you spent the whole sleepless night planning how to sustain your family in this misfortune. "This ungrateful child." You explained your troubles to the whole family a past night. Yet this nut didn't pick a point. Instead of sympathizing with you and pray to Allah that you land in a new job, he picks stones to destroy more property.
It comes to mind that, your son lives to eat and he doesn't eat to live. Food is a number one priority on the list of his needs. Secondly, he has been brought up in a culture of decay. The culture of violence as a solution for the world's problems. And it doesn't matter who is in charge and for what causes the situation. What matters is, "My interests" and don't tell him your troubles because he never told you to be a job seeker rather than a job creator.
I believe this is a rare scene. It may not even happen for centuries in any of the homes. Children understand quickly the family situation even at a tender reasonable age. Lack is lack. The family comes prior to luxury. Together, a family can stand the odds of the time. Why is it not the case in our schools? The reason is simple. Students don't feel at home at school. No love. No affection. No confidentiality. No rapport with their teachers. The state of affairs is "We against Them." The teacher defends the teacher and the student, fellow students. The consequence of such an environment is a 'No love' but a 'fight for control.' So when an opportunity arises for an eruption. The option available for these little minds is to take to the streets for demonstration, throw stones or set fire on dormitories, libraries and classes.
I won't mince my words. The word 'strike' stinks. It reflects a culture of apathy, irresponsibility, lawlessness and permissiveness in the society. And I can't blame the kids on rampage. The example is from their elders. What do you call a professor, a lecturer, and a minister running the street with branches or banners in the hands? Striker or debater! Is it not dialogue meant for mature people and rampage for immature high school students? There is need for a reformation in society if schools should be put in proper lines.
Don't think Students on rampage is only a teacher's trouble or the education officers'. It is your problem, my problem. Our problem. What will happen when that lad throwing stones at school comes tomorrow in a lamb's skin seeking for a job in your firm? Of course he will get it. One day you may land in a deficit and expect your staff to understand the company's situation. But, the strike-cultured young man won't listen to you. He will mobilize other fellows to set fire on your office. Then call it fighting for their rights. They have worked hard and they have responsibilities to fulfill at their homes, but the means they use to reach their interests are what they have learned right from school. Where is the family spirit you have been for years building among your employees? This rotten tomato has put down your efforts. You experience a double loss. Poor you! The lad missed important formative years, the school years. He needs psychiatric help. Do you realize how school matters to you?
The family and the school are synonymous. The head teacher is a mother and father. The teachers need the cooperation of the parents, the pupils, and the society to put the young on a right path. It is not enough to give taxes for education or pay school fees for your child. All children need an education friendly atmosphere to learn well and be good citizens. You may have learned people but not necessarily educated ones. This is a danger to the society that is so much interdependent.
The school is a vital part of the society and we must give a right ambient to enable its stakeholders to realize their purpose. The job of the teacher is paramount because he is training your next president, your MP, your doctor, your driver, etc. you can play your part by forming a virtuous person while still a formable stage. If you don't, that fellow behind the desk might turn out rusty and if he climbs the ladder to become a president, He or she might become the next Hitler or Idi Amin. Will you blame the killings on him? No dear, we are all held responsible. His actions are a sum total of what we have educated him. An African proverb goes thus, "It takes a whole village to educate a child."
We can set a family atmosphere in schools. Kids can feel a sense of belonging whether at school or at home. They learn better. The teacher, parent and pupil are shareholders in this venture. But the rest of the society must give a setting. The school will produce responsible citizens only when we are good citizens. Love breeds dialogue and respect. Dialogue breeds respect hence development.
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