The role of discipline in human development

Discipline is the mental attitude that regulates our behavior. It is the discipline in human beings that differentiates them from animals. Humans through a course of training acquire discipline. Discipline helps us to take in instructions that corrects wrong viewpoints and that moulds our mental faculties and course of conduct.

It is easy to tell who is educated and disciplined just as it is easy to identify a school dropout who has gone to the motor park to make a living as a tout. The difference is clear. We all admire someone who, even when under extreme provocation maintains level headiness. On the order hand the person who fights under a flimsy excuse is easily written off as untrained and undisciplined.

Discipline is a virtue. When we acquire it, it imbues us with the patience to put up with slight inconveniences and learn and acquire the skills that qualify us as teachers, administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors, architects and other respected professionals. Therefore let us embrace discipline.

 

 Rationale

•  To prepare students for the laws of society.

•  To maintain the School’s good reputation.

•  To ensure the safety and security of all.

•  To facilitate the organization and administration of the School.

• The School has a Behaviour Management Policy (BMP) which covers behavioural issues.

 

  Other Supporting Policies

 

To assist the School the following policies exist in conjunction with the Code of Conduct Policy

• Child Protection/Safeguarding

• Disciplinary

• Anti Bullying

• Complaints

• Equal Opportunities

• Internet Use

• Academic standard

• Smoking

• Data Protection

 

General.

• Enrolment in the School means accepting a contract to honour the rules, practices, traditions and

  good name of the School. Any behaviour or appearance which adversely reflects upon the School

  will be considered contrary to School Rules. This applies in and out of the School (i.e. in public, at

  weekends, at home, etc., as well as in class or on the sports field) regardless of whether the student

  is in uniform or not.

• It is the individual student’s responsibility to find out and learn the rules. Ignorance is no excuse for failure to comply.

• It is the student’s responsibility to learn the specific rules that apply to particular areas, Houses,

  buildings and amenities (eg library, computer room, dining hall, etc.) and these rules must also be

  observed.

• Students must also be aware of their School commitments and, to this end, must read the notice

  boards daily and note particular details from official publications of the School (Handbook, Bulletin,

  etc.).

• A breach of common sense will be interpreted as a breach of the School Rules.

• No student may take part in any press interview, broadcast or other public appearance in which the

  name of the School is mentioned, without the authority of the School.

• All members of the School are responsible for keeping the grounds and the buildings clean and tidy.

 

 

RESPECT FOR TEACHERS AND SENIORS

Since the school is the second home, it goes without saying that we should maintain a high level of discipline in the school just as we do in our homes.

We actually respect our parents and our elder brothers and sisters in our homes. Just like in a house, the father is the head of the house, in the same way the Principal is the head of the school. The Principal should be respected just as the father in the house. The mother who helps the father in running the house must also be respected. The teachers are like the mother who helps the father. Therefore teachers must be respected.

The students are` children’ of the `father’ and` mother’ (Principal and Teachers). These children must respect one another. The younger children must obey and respect the elder ones and the elder ones must also treat the younger ones with respect and protect them. The same goes in a school. Younger students should respect their seniors; the seniors should also treat the younger ones with respect and protect them. In this way the family will be happy and prosperous. A school where this principle is applied will produce men and women who will be tomorrow’s parent and leaders.

 

Social Interaction

• While students are encouraged to gather at social events, the School emphasises that all students, even though they may be approaching adulthood, still need to be governed by constraints which take into account their status as students and their responsibilities to the School.

•  The School urges parents to ensure that private functions are carefully planned, supervised and controlled, and that the functions, at all times, remain in keeping with the degree of maturity of the age group.

• The School feels that parents should involve their children in the experience and responsibility of conducting a function; and it also believes that the best possible guidance that parents can give their children is through the example that they themselves set in thoughtfulness and moderation.

• While not questioning the prerogative of parents on private property, the School seeks particular cooperation with regard to the smoking of cigarettes and the consumption of alcohol, and reminds parents that both these activities are strictly forbidden at the School.

• Courtesy and consideration for others are considered a foremost responsibility and no bullying of any kind is tolerated.

 

Property

• No student may touch, borrow, interfere with, or damage any property of the School and its

  employees or of any other person.

• Any damage to property must be reported immediately to an appropriate member of staff.

• Vandalism is not tolerated.

• Each student is responsible for any property allocated to him and also for his own property, which

  must be maintained in good condition, stored tidily and clearly marked.

• Students must use their lockers to store property and ensure that the lockers are securely padlocked.

• Valuable property that has to be brought to School for some urgent reason must be given to

  the Head of House immediately upon arrival for safe-keeping until needed.

• Students are not permitted to buy or sell property at School.

 

 

Health

Drugs

• The sale, purchase, possession and/or use of drugs (including tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol) are

  forbidden.

• Acting as an agent for such substances is also forbidden.

Sickness or Injury

• A Medical Report is required for all students entering the School.

• No child who is suffering from any illness, or who has been in recent contact with any infectious disease, may attend School unless prior permission has been given by the principal.

• All routine dental and medical treatment (e.g. inoculations) should be completed before a student commences a school term.

• Should any aspect of a student’s health, especially sight and hearing, require assessment by a

  specialist, parents are asked to consult their family doctor for referral to the appropriate specialist of

  their choice. Where this may be impractical, the parent/guardian consents to the Medical Centre arranging specialist or other referrals as deemed appropriate.

•  The School will endeavour to assist parents and students by reporting any physical or psychological disabilities that may be noticed, so that arrangements may be made for the appropriate medical consultation.

•  Parents are requested to keep the School informed about their child’s health so that records are kept up to date and the best possible care can be given to each student.

• A student who is ill or injured during the day should report to the medical staff at the School Medical Centre or the “Sick Bay". No student may leave School if he or she feels unwell without first doing this, and his or her parents will be contacted if necessary.

•  When a student reports sick, he or she must be accompanied by another member of the same House or class and, where practicable, the appropriate Head of House or teacher will be notified immediately.

•  In the case of apparently serious injury, under no circumstances should the patient be moved. In such cases the medical staff should be sent for without delay.

•  Parents should be prepared to remove their child from School as soon as possible, should he or she have contracted an infectious disease. Additionally, medical clearance will need to be given for the student before they return to the School. In the case of a boarder, the student will have to reside at the guardian’s residence or at home until medical clearance is given. The guardian of boarders will need to ensure that the student is supervised and not left alone.

•  It is School policy that all boarders are attended by the School doctor. Parents wishing to make alternative health care arrangements should notify the Principal and the Medical Centre, in writing, giving details.

•  Returning students who bring prescribed medications of any kind to School should report to the Medical Centre for instructions regarding the safe storage and administration of these drugs.

 

REFERRAL

• First, treatment should be given to every student that is sick for 72 hours before referred for further diagnosis, except on very serious emergency situation.

• Every referral case should pass through the Principal for further follow-up.

• No student is allowed to go home alone.

• Every referred student must return back to school with a medical report duly signed by a Certified Medical Practitioner.

 

VISITING

• On resumption, after clearance, parents/guardians are given a visiting card to enable them visit their wards on visiting days. This card should be brought along by the parent/guardian whenever they are coming to the school.

• In situations where a parent/guardian is unable to visit the ward and chooses to assign somebody to visit the ward on their behalf, the visitor must come with the visiting card and a written note from the parent/guardian and the school reserve the right to call the parent/guardian for clarifications.

• Visitors are not allowed to see students except on visiting days.

•  Provision items may be brought to students only on visiting day. Visitors may choose to come along with cooked food which must not be taking to the hostel by the student.