Reviewing Student Discipline Approach: An Effort Worth The While

Disciplining students at Ilmu Khas Campus can prove to be very challenging and presents some of the most perplexing issues that the Institute faces. When given the trust to oversee the students’ discipline three years ago, it was nightmarish because a thorough review of student discipline approach was very much needed to ensure the rules and regulations of the Institute is observed comprehensively and abide by the students all over again. This is indeed, retrospectively not an overstatement.

An effective philosophy of student discipline must have several components. First, the philosophy must include a way to inform the students of the Institute rules and expectations. Second, the philosophy must include a way to remind students of the policy and enforce the rules. Finally, administrators and lecturers must collectively be prepared to discipline the students should the need arise.

Executing the first and second component was expectedly uncomplicated and effortless since the rules and regulations are already documented. Nonetheless, it was like waking up a herd of tigers when the “DOs” and “DON’Ts” were accentuated to ascertain that the rules be heeded appropriately. Students with habits of arriving late for the first lecture were among the first to make strong protest when their first hour was marked as absent even though they were physically present for 45 minutes. Majority of the students (lecturers inclusive) objected the implementation of this rule emphasising on the issue of “unfairness”. Fortunately, administrators and colleagues who share the same sentiment of wanting to see changes in students’ behaviours supported the action taken and by the end of two semesters, there was significant number in reduction of late comers. The obstinate were identified and made to register themselves at the Student Affair Department daily for certain duration until they were able to consistently arrived for lecture at least five minutes before 8:00am. After three semesters, the number of late comers was trivial.

Attending lectures have a positive impact on learning and progress for the students.  The Institute must have effective systems and procedures for encouraging regular attendance and investigate the underlying causes of poor attendance which should be set out in an attendance policy. These systems should be reviewed regularly and modified where necessary to reflect the circumstances of the Institute. Being absent for any lecture is not of any student’s choice. If the circumstances are unavoidable, absence must be accompanied with an official document to affirm the reason. Personal claims like stomach cramp, migraine, visiting a sick uncle at the hospital or paying last respect to a dead relative are among the popular vindications used to qualify their absenteeism from without cause to with cause. However cruel it may seem, their nonattendance would still be forfeited unless they go through the proper channel, fill out the exemption forms, informed their Mentors and Student Affair Department before taking their leave. Objections for such tedious procedure were countless when the rule was first earnestly imposed but it was a matter of time that everyone became familiar and receptive of it. Majority of the students developed awareness of the need to validate their absenteeism which resulted in the decrease of truancy.

Students need to be aware of clear, escalating consequences for inappropriate behaviour. Firstly the student should be warned if their behaviour is incongruous and made aware of the consequences should the behaviour persist.  If the behaviour continues, the consequences need to be immediately enforced. Should the student continue to be disruptive the next step should be to contact a parent or a guarantor and make them aware of the trend of the negative behaviour.  Finally, if the student is unable to modify his behaviour, the Act 174 should be exercised as a deterrent to the deteriorating demeanour.  These punitive actions, however, should be employed only after all avenues for minimizing the opportunity for disruptions and attempts at individualized instruction have failed. This procedure is aimed at executing the third component of the student discipline approach where administrators and lecturers jointly uphold the officially employed rules and regulations of the Institute.

Learning invaluable life lessons, developing character and integrity, and understanding one’s responsibility to the larger community embody the values of the Institute discipline process. Everyone is responsible in promoting and encouraging good attendance and punctuality among the students. When these two aspects become a ritual, they will foster good attitude and conscience. Other commendable traits will develop further within these students, provided there is ample monitoring and reviewing of the student discipline approach from time to time by the assigned authority.

Relentless and constant observations and supervisions of student behavioural patterns are much needed to ensure wrongdoings are kept at bay. The process can drained anyone in-charge but indeed after three years, the effort is worth the while.

It gets to their head

We have achieved our independence for almost 55 years now and indeed our country is standing with its head up looking proud in the eyes of the world. No one in the era of YM Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister, would have imagined that we could come this far and be recognised around the globe. We indeed owe it all to our 4th Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir.

We are no doubt catching up with the developed countries in infra- and info-structures; and we definitely top the list among the developing countries. Nevertheless, the mentality of majority of our people remains underdeveloped and is far from having achieved its "independence".

I don't have to look far to prove my point. Looking at my own students, a particular group of them who have the opportunity to do the twinning programme with an Australian University, is enough to confirm the matter. And these are youths whom we hope to exhibit zero sign of colonised minds for the future of the country lies in their hands. Regrettably, only with two years abroad to be among the "mat salleh", studying at a "mat salleh" University, having "mat salleh" lecturers, they have come back to try to sound and behave like the "mat salleh". They have become unnecessarily critical over petty matters because it's not like when they were in Australia. Born and bred in Malaysia all their life and the two years changed their perspective of their own country. Their minds have become more colonised than those who have lived through the years of the British rule.

With many English words still mispronounced and some English sentences used are still grammatically wrong, yet they have actually came back with an attitude. The journey of their life has hardly begun. The criterion of becoming a successful teacher has never been where one is trained or educated. It's what lies within us. If one begins with forgetting one's root too easily, the journey may not be an enjoyable one after all.

Tun Mahathir never studied in any "Mat Salleh" country in his life, yet he became the Prime Minister of Malaysia for 22 years and brought us to where we are today...a proud nation envied by the rest of the world!!!

It's already the second month of 2012 and work has resumed full swing since the new semester started on the 4th January. My expectations to see some changes in my favour do not seem to show any sign of being fulfilled in the near future. I have, however, brace myself so as not to anticipate anything to avoid disappointments. This is the time to practice what I always preach to my students.

Speaking of students...I am entrusted with two groups of Guru Sandaran Tidak Terlatih (GSTT), one the Program Persediaan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PPISMP) and the other Diploma Perguruan Lepas Ijazah (DPLI). These programmes are newly introduced and they cater for those who have at least two years experience teaching in primary schools as untrained contract teachers. It's an advantage to teach them because of their teaching experiences. They are able to relate easily to classroom situations. Given the correct and ample guidance, they should perform well in their practicum and later as trained teachers. My anticipation is more on their academic performance.

Another group is the same group which I taught in 2010 when the students were doing their preparatory course. Now, they are already undergraduates. I enjoyed teaching them then and they were already at home with me. Thus, teaching them again for another two semesters this year would be like resuming the relationship and rapport that we have built with each other. They have a commendable attitude towards learning and teaching them gives me a lot of pleasure.

Numerous new events and involvements are anticipated this semester. My hopes are that I will be able to live up to others' expectations of me and fulfilled my duties as a lecturer, facilitator and administrator effectively and commendably...Insya'Allah.

A Reason For Everything

I was by chance having lunch at Hulu Bernam with my mum yesterday, a makan place we have not tried before. To my delight, ikan patin masak tempoyak was one of the dishes available. While enjoying my food, an elderly lady seated at the table next to ours started making small talks with my mum. Before long, both ladies were exchanging stories and the makcik took the lead when I asked who was the boy (about a year old) she was holding. Such a friendly boy, smiling and trying to get everyone's attention all the while. I felt a pang of sadness in me when it was unfolded that the little boy has just lost his father a few months ago. He died a mysterious death at the age of 31. Soon after, his mother left for her kampong in Kelantan due to unbearable sadness of the loss of her husband, leaving her son with his grandmother.

It's bewildering that a mother could just desert her year-old son for self-consolation. I couldn't help but think about him over and over again. When my sister passed away and left two children ages 7 and 9, I was wretched with the thought of them growing up without a mother. But this boy, he will grow up not knowing his parents at all. He will have no memories of them. Such overwhelming sadness indeed!

Nevertheless, keeping faith in Allah and believing in qada and qadar, I am sure everything happens for a reason. I extend my doa for this boy, asking for Allah to embrace him in His utmost care...Amin

Follow the Heart?

When it comes to the matter of the heart, there are so many questions that cannot be answered...and if they could, the answers are more self- justifying rather than anything else.

Of late, a new trend is seen to be widely accepted by our society. Younger men are dating and marrying older women. I am still very much of a conservative person and I cannot seem to go with the flow whatever the reasons maybe. There are not too many reasons that I have heard of anyway. The most common one used by older women is, "eventhough he's young, he's mature". And the most common used by younger men is, "mature women make me feel more comfortable". Both parties are therefore looking for maturity in their partners but if we observe them closely, neither behave quite maturely. The older woman takes control of her man because she is the one financially stable and the younger man abides by her rules like a toy-boy seeking comfort and refuge. Where is respect in this so-called mature behaviour? Or perhaps respect has a different definition for this group of people.

Fundamentally, human beings seek pleasure. If that's the kind of pleasure this older women-younger men are seeking, be it then. Just hope that the pleasure sought is not ephemeral.

The Long-Awaited Break

It was a mad rush towards the end of this semester - the rush for finding suitable dates for moderation of exam papers, marking, entering marks, preparing reports - everything to ensure dead lines were met. Alas, it was over by 24th November 2011. I was glad I managed everything without a glitch, thanks to Allah who gave me the strength - physically, mentally and emotionally.

Now it's relaxing time. This break is much needed and being in my hometown without having to think about work for a while is simply blissful. Coinciding with the fruit season is indeed a bonus to be here. Eating the fruits fresh from the trees is indeed a privilege to me. I know many would envy this joy I am experiencing but if it is any consolation to all my friends, I do remember you everytime I have those juicy fruits in my mouth...hmm...yummy.

Most of the Kampong folks are involved in the seasonal business of selling durians by the roadside. Since my Kampong is along the old North-South main road, many passers-by do stop for fresh durians. With the Kalumpang Resort and Training Centre in the Kampong itself, the number of outsiders buying durians is doubled. For now, everywhere and everything is about durian here.

Drug addicts are also taking the opportunity to steal durians from other people's durian orchard, including my mum's. Without shame they shove a wheel barrow to collect durians from under the trees daily and open up a stall by the roadside to sell them. Unsuspecting passers-by will stop and purchase those durians which will definitely be sold at a much cheaper price. After all, no capital is involved. Shouldn't their activities be reported to the police? No matter what, it is theft. Yes it should but I guess the kampong folks have given up on the police. I should say no more.

Minus the drug addicts, I am pleased that the fruit season is here again. It's durians + mangosteens + durians + mangosteens until there are no more left one day or until the break is over...whichever comes first :)

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