Our entire society is governed by use use of " power " to control the way we live. The government has the power to enact laws that dictate what level of taxes we will pay. The police enforce the laws that control personal behaviour across the broad spectrum of our daily lives. The " Boss " dictates the rules we must follow in whatever job delivers us a pay check. This same " power " decides everything from the way we drive a car on the road to what constitutes an illegal substance that we are forbidden to possess.
It has become abundantly clear that the baton of power in the education system has passed from the hands of the teaching profession and now is firmly controlled by the students. In almost every incidence of disharmony between teacher and student, the education department sides with the student and often this ends with the teacher being reprimanded - or dismissed from his or her job.
There is simply no check on what students choose to do in the classroom. If they answer calls on their mobile phone or decide to make outward calls during the lesson the teacher is restricted to politely asking that the phone be handed over. If the student refuses - the teacher must accept that refusal, despite further phone traffic interrupting the class lesson for other students.
If a student punches a teacher or in any way delivers violence, the teacher is at fault for any defensive action. One teacher who put such a student into a headlock was dismissed from further service and is now taking legal action against the education department. The only punishment available to a school for disruptive behaviour by a student - is suspension from classes for a period of time.
Students can be insolent, deliberately disruptive, manipulative, violent - and often totally supported by coddling parents who are quick to run to the media with complaints against any form of threatened discipline. Today's kids have access to a wide band of social media. They may be disinterested in learning English and maths - but they are very interested to learn their " rights " - and astute in developing ways of using those rights to their advantage.
They have learned that the threat to claim " sexual misconduct " is a very powerful weapon, and even the suggestion that they have been " inappropriately touched " by a teacher will have immense consequences for that person. In most cases, the education department will stand down that person from active teaching while the matter is investigated - and even if the claim is dismissed, it will have a long term effect on further promotional prospects.
This passing of the baton of power has resulted in a failed education system. We are churning out a proportion of students without the skills to hold down a paying job and this is developing into an underclass to the detriment of our society.
If removing those who refuse to learn is the only way of restoring excellence to our education system - then so be it ! It is essential that power be restored to those tasked with guiding students in their studies and that those with aspirations to a better life have access to education that is not disrupted by a noisy minority.
Education is a privilege that costs the taxpayer a lot of money. Those same taxpayers have a right to a system that rewards parents who encourage their children to obey the rules and learn in an environment where they have every chance of success. Sadly, those that reject that opportunity have no place disrupting the achievements of the many and there is no point in forcing their attendance at school.
If they are destined to fall by the wayside in life - it is by their personal choice !
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