A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS AND CAUSES OF INDISCIPLINE AMONG STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

INTRODUCTION

Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.

Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:

 Conceptual Framework

 Chapter Summary

2.1 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Discipline is synonymous with punishment. According to this concept, discipline is used only where a child violates the rules and regulations set down by parents, teachers or adult in charge of the affairs of the community in which he lives. Used correctly discipline is dubious as said, a process of training and learning that fosters growth and development. It comes from the same world as discipline. Bandura and Allinstimita (1969) Discipline is a state of order maintained by training and control of a particular system of regulation for conduct, instruction and exercise designed to train to proper conduct or action, systematic training inflicted by way of correction and training inflicted by way of correction and training inflicted by way of correction and training. Akinboye (1980) Discipline is also the training of Moral character to produce self control and habit of obedience. It is essential in every organized community. Discipline has right to question authority of the teachers. He must obey and try to understand the object. Adesina (1990) Discipline has been observed as the readiness or ability to respect authority and observe conventional or established laws of the society or any other organization. He later said that discipline implies self control, restrain, respect for self and respect for others. Alexander (1945) said that discipline in heavens first “law” this is also the first law in any school. Life is a preparatory stage for the future well being and the much that is required that carries one through life. If one is ill-treated during his delicate stage, it will be realized that one ends up as a threat to community. This paper is concerned mainly with the meanings given above because discipline is very important feature by which the quality of a school is judged. When a school lacks discipline, many facets of school activities are adversely affected, in fact a school that has a poor discipline is likely also to have a poor public image, a poor fore, low morals among staff, frequent quarrels and anti-social acts among students, poor performance in sports and also affect their performances in examination. According to Marland (1993), to say that children are disciplined is different from saying that they are controlled. Controlled children believe in the external value of the directions of the controller at least sufficiently to follow them. Disciplined children, on the other hand, observe the internal values of the activities to subscribe to. This explains the eagerness to substitute the term “discipline” with the term “control”. Mbiti (as cited in redempta 2010) defines discipline as a system of arranging condition for healthy learning and living. Since life is a continuous series of choices, the child must be trained to make choices reasonably and independently. Bakhda (2004) Says that a good manager must have effective communication skills. A number of communication channels can be used to enhance interactions and discipline like culture in schools. These include making announcements at school, assemblies, staff meetings, daily announcement in classrooms and staff rooms, person to person communication, telephones, e-mails, postal systems, memos, notice boards, newsletters, personalized letters, intercom-telephony among others. Indiscipline can be alleviated in schools if available channels of communication are effectively employed. Students should be allowed to express their grievances to the school administration and teachers. Teachers and school managers should also use these channels to sensitize students on expected behaviour. Communication enhances attitudes towards teaching, learning and the whole educational process and systems. Charles (as cited in Asare & Adzrolo, 2013) encourages head teachers to have dialogue with their students both formally and informally. Dialogue could motivate learners to behave better because they feel that the head teacher is concerned about them. On the same issue, Kolaci; (2014) says that without proper interactions and appropriate use of channels communication, an organization can only be a confused gathering of people and machines. The leader, the group and the situations influence one another. Conversely, a style of leadership that informs people what to do without seeking their opinions is considered autocratic and the outcome is chaos and anarchy. The history traditions and culture of a school set the tone for student’s discipline. Wallace (as cited in Bakzer 1999) has formulated a model of the psychology of culture change that is considerably more complex. The scholar argues that when the equilibrium of a socio-cultural system is disrupted by forces internal or external to it, it becomes unable to meet the needs of parts, including their needs for orderliness and predictability in their social life. They become dissollioned and discontented which leads to an increase in deviant behavior, mental disorder and crime, which are soon followed by institutionalized floating of conventions by groups of people seeking comfort in alcohol, violence, illicit sexual and economic practices, as social trust and security deteriorate further. The culture of school contributes to student discipline the new members in a school adopt and fit into the culture of the school through various interactions and process. School members also determine the culture of their institution. It is the responsibility of the school administration, principal, teachers and students to determine the type of culture to exhibit. New staff members and students are also inducted into the existing culture. Duke (as cited in Akomolafe, 2012) says that highly performing schools are characterized by commitment to appropriate student behaviour and set clear behaviour expectations for students. In such schools, rules, sanctions and procedures are discussed, debated and frequently formalized into school discipline and classroom management plans (Ibid) the climate in such institutions reveals concern for students as individuals which manifest itself in a variety of ways, including efforts to involve students in school decision-making and de-emphasis on homogenous group.

Sullivian, Johnson, Owens and Conway (2014), Citing slee (1995), posit that suspension as a means to reforming student behaviour does not help the student because the school staff simply gets rid of the troublesome students rather than changing the school environment in such a way as to prevent or reduce discipline problems. Schools are places where it expected, students will learn to live in unity and harmony. The Teachers Service Commission (2002) posits that indiscipline arises where idleness is rampant and teachers show little interest in student’s academy welfare. Discipline as part of educational and life training must be carried out in the context of love, respect and acceptance.

Indiscipline

According to the Oxford Advance Learners Dictionary 5th edition of current English, Indiscipline is defined as absence of discipline. Indiscipline can also be seen as any action considered to be wrong and not generally accepted as proper in a set up or society. This is direct opposite of discipline, which is a state of order obtained by training and control punishment inflicted by way of correcting training. Indiscipline as defined by Akinboye (1980) is also mis behaviour. In other words, indiscipline is any act or behavior or an individual or group of people that is not in conformity with the general accepted pattern of standard, norms in the society of mind character in a person to produce self control or habits of obedience. It involves lack of obedience to constituted authority or law of a nation. It is also lack discipline or restrain.

The various types of Indiscipline are;

Fighting: fighting gives rise to indiscipline, it resulted to physical combat.

Wickedness: due to the gravity of wickedness in the mind of the students, they oppress or bully fellow students who are weak.

Assault and Insult: students or youths rudely attack their teachers, also fight with members of the staff as well as members of non-teaching staff and beat up their junior ones.

Truancy: Some students run away from school for several reasons. This may include the fear of punishment, dislike for examination, the influence of various peer groups etc. constant stay away from school make them perform ugly in examination.

PROBLEM OF INDISCIPLINE

The problem of indiscipline is more apparent among secondary school students in public school. Indiscipline among them has affected serious attention of scholars and administrators, these scholars and administrators attributed indiscipline among public secondary school to their state of development. They opined that when students notice certain biological changes signaling maturity in the cause of their growth and development, they tend to misbehave by faulting school rules and regulation (Mukharjee 1985). Research Studies have shown that indiscipline seems to be worse with children of the big, heavy, powerful and seemingly religions parents, reasons for these findings would be hazard later in the course of this discourse. At this point, it is worthwhile to highlight some of the prevalent case and act of indiscipline among public secondary school students. It is disappointing normal to see students roam the streets freely nowadays in their school uniforms. Female students now have their classrooms in their boyfriends or man friends place. There is little or no respects for teachers anymore. Therefore, those days when our parents would threaten to teachers whenever students were acting against the wishes of their parents, it has become non-sense to punish a student’s bad behaviour for such “Disciplinarian” must be beaten up by the agents of the “discipline” or harass and sometimes punished as well by the parent of the indiscipline students.

CAUSES OR FACTORS OF INDISCIPLINE

Also there are factors that contribute to indiscipline among secondary school students, which include peer pressure, teachers, parents, governments etc.

GOVERNMENT

Yes, the government especially who controls publicly owned schools have in one way or the other show no concern in putting up good structures for learning and also school structures which are faulty are left without being repaired e.g school fees, Broken desks and chair, worn-out roofs etc. Due to this non-challant attitude by the government, to an extent students see opportunity in leaving school premises during school hours as they do not find their environment conducive for learning and also they tend to see the essence of learning as waste of time

PARENTS

Parents in one way or the other contribute to the indiscipline in students. Some parents will always quarrel and fight in the presence of their children, show no sign of discipline for them rather they encourage their children into practicing what they have seen at home in school. Also some parents encourage their children to cheat by sponsoring or encouraging their children in paying for special centers to make sure their spouse pass external exams. By reason of this, students develop the culture of examination malpractices even in their various schools.

TEACHERS

Teachers are responsible for lecturing students and guiding them with moral conduct but a situation whereby the teacher is not being paid his/her salary poses threat to the teacher’s attitudes towards their job. In most cases the teachers avoid coming to school or sometimes succumb to lateness, all these are tied to non-payment of salaries which discourages them on performing their duty. The students take notice of, and decides to capitalize on the frustration of the teachers by bullying them, insulting them, disobeying orders etc. In some rare cases the teachers stoop so low in as much as getting into a relationship with students whom they are educating, in so doing there is no longer separation of rank or level between such students and the teachers, as a result of this. There is bound to be equality of status between the teacher and the student. Since indiscipline has taken place, there is no respect for teachers by the students.

PEER GROUPS

Peer groups exist virtually in every school setting and the group influences the individual to partake in some actions be it negative positive to be seen as part of the group i.e the “peer group” takes the goal of every individual against their personal goals. Outside the family, peer groups have been seen to have greater influence on individuals in the aspect of indiscipline. The peers are grouped sometimes as cultists, smokers, Robbers etc. which an individual who belongs serve the purpose of the interest of the group he/she belongs against his/her interest. Mostly in schools peer groups are found and it poses threat to discipline.

IMPACT OR EFFECTS OF INDISCIPLINE

Today indiscipline in our society has taken various shapes. These includes all forms of anti-social behaviours among our students which often come inform of sexual assault, rioting, stealing, and lying, cheating and examination malpractice, drug abuse, secrete cults etc.

RIOTING

An upsurge of student violence on our secondary schools throughout the world has become a central issue in the emergence of students personal services. (Denga 1982) According to him, students unrest has come to be regarded as basic academic or disorderly protest involving disruptions violence and terrorism. Many students today seek to participate actively and even aggressive in societal reconstruction and often violently in order to try and change the societal norms. Denga (1982) says that if one could take a hard look on student violence as well he suggested that one of the popular explanations of students activities during recent years has been what he would call the warm out phrase generation gap, one of the student’s unrest. Denga also stated that the apparent increase in the students unrest is becoming both increasingly difficult to ignore. According to Akinboye (1987) Adolescents have a lot of problems getting adjusted to moral codes, rules of the society and authority because a lot of inconsistencies become noticeable even among the peers in terms of what they hold as sacred; some peers may like to have uncontrolled sex affair while others may not want to do so, some peer may want to engage in cheating behaviour in school, at home or in the society while others will not. Hence the problem of moral value and what rules to uphold compounded by those inconsistencies, hence discipline in the form of rioting may arise as a result of conflicts, frustrations, inhabitations, urgent need and worries.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS

Sexual harassment according to Mackinnnon (1979) is an unwanted imposition of sexual requirement in the context of a relationship of unequal power. Oyemelue Anchor in Ekpo (1996) talks about sex behaviour as a form of indiscipline among students identified , masturbation, homosexuality and lesbianism, they also saw rape and prostitutions as a form of indiscipline behavior. There is no denying the fact that today many of our females in the secondary schools in an attempt to cater for their needs go into prostitution, running after sugar daddies. The boys are no exception as some of them mostly of adolescent age break into people’s houses in the night even in broad day light and after disposing people wives and daughters involved in forced wives sex (rape) and other forms of sexual assaults.

STEALING AND LYING

Stealing in whatever form; shoplifting, pilfering, armed robbery etc. in an antisocial behavior. It is not just anti-social but also a grievous sin insight of God Almighty. This is why we have the Holy Scripture talks against it e.g “thou shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15). This is one of the ten commandments of God given to mankind. Thus this behavior whether in adult or in youths should not be taken lightly, we should rather be the agencies for character molding and behavior modification. Students proper as ranging from provision up to school fees are stolen at school by fellow students. People properties in the homes are taken away even in broad daylight and some time the owners are killed in the process, cars are snatched from owners at gun point even on busy roads, stealing constitutes about 60% of the total offences among secondary school students. A research conducted by Gribbes and peg (1982) revealed that stealing if not treated early enough in a child life can grow to the stage where the individual can turn it into a profession.

DRUG ABUSE

The consumption and trafficking in drugs have assumed alarming proportion to the embarrassment of friends, parents and even the government. Adesina in Ekpo (1996) Says that secondary school students take drugs for various reasons. To him the boys, take drugs for “kick” and “action” while girls take them to feel good and to reduce tension in the Nigerian observer of may 1st 1985, Adamson gave reasons why secondary school students abuse drugs. His reasons include peer group pressure, social and personality type. Another area of problem with the students in secondary school is drinking habits. They may not be known as alcoholics but rather problems drinkers. When with peers most of them see drinking as a pre-requisite for acceptance, inability to drink well or total abstinence is often seen as a threat to the group.

SECRETE CULTS

This is another social menace that is seriously disturbing by the Nigerian society in decades. Alarming is the rate at which this menace is spreading in our secondary schools. This unfortunate situation was lamented over by Obateru in Ekpo (1966) He pointed out that the infiltrations of secrete cults into our secondary schools were causing school heads nightmares. Student’s indiscipline has led to the lost of many lives either through drug addictions, riots and many violence demonstration, abortion or robbers. Many of our students today engage in one or more of these activities. Indiscipline among secondary school students has a lot of negative effects on our educational system and learning. Many academic calendar have been disrupted, school properties worth thousands of naira are been destroyed as a result of these anti-social behavior exhibited by our students in our secondary schools now form themselves into gangs (mafia groups). This becomes a means whereby students are exposed to drug use and later become addicted, leading subsequently to their initiation into secrete cults. The students go out to achieve their evil goals

CONTROL MEASURES

To control indiscipline especially in our secondary school among students in Nigeria is certainly a task as it has eaten deep into all factors of life in the society. The adults that the students look upon as pace setters are also involved in acts of indiscipline. However, it is the duty of parents, governments and non governments organizations, religions organizations to rise to the challenges in the curbing the rate of indiscipline among our students. The parents and religious or organizations have to train up children morally, children who are brought up in the fear of God and with respect for elders as social norms hardly get themselves involve in immoral behaviors. Some have suggested the incarceration of the indiscipline in students as a way of reducing them from the schools. Unfortunately, this method has done little to lower the rate of indiscipline. Many frustrating experiences with their parent’s poor home atmospheres and boredom are the major factors influencing the acts of indiscipline and that it is these factors that must be changed if their lives are going to change. Elizabeth Hurlock (1972) posited that it has always been believed that children need discipline but there have been change in attitudes about why they need it. In the past, it was believed that individuals would adhere to the standard that society established and would tolerate no deviation from it.

2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A theory gives an explanation of a work that needs to be analyzed critically. What is a theory? A theory is a set of ideas put forward through the use of concepts, variables, hypothesis, prepositions etc. logically tied together to explain phenomenon.

Any theory must be logical to explain something. Karl Marx - Marx came as a result that he do not believe that there is no conflict in the society. Marx believed that by struggle in the society, there must be conflict. Weber – was looking for explanation as a result why one person behaves differently in a group. A theoretical framework consists of concepts and together with their definitions and references to relevant scholarly literature, existing theory that is used for your particular study. The theoretical framework must demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts that are relevant to the topic of your research paper and that relates to broader areas of knowledge being considered. The theoretical framework is most often not something readily found within the literature. You must review course readings and pertinent research studies for theories and analytic models that are relevant to the research problem you are investigating. The selection of a theory should depend on its appropriateness, ease of application, an explanatory power. This study adopted the social learning (Bandura) theory. In this theory, Albert Bandura (1977) posits that human behaviour is learnt observationally through modeling. Through observation one forms an idea about behaviours, actions of others, codes the behavior which later serves as a guide to actions. Nowadays children are surrounded by many people of influence (models) such as parents, teachers, television, characters and peer groups members. These models exhibit various types of behaviour which is observed and might be imitated by children with little regards as to whether the behaviour is ‘gender appropriate’ or not. Bandura suggests that a child who has seen her parents being kind and caring will tend to do the same. Conversely a child who has seen aggressive behaviour of parents is likely to be violent in solving problems.Reward or vicarious reinforcement is some of the factors that influence imitation. A child that observes someone being rewarded for a certain conduct may be influenced to take up the behavior that was rewarded. Therefore people around the child will determine the way a child will respond to the behavior he or she imitates. If a child got rewarded by imitating the behaviour of a model, he/she is likely to continue with that behaviour. Therefore students are more likely to imitate behaviors exhibited by adults. The behavior of parents, friends and teachers can influence or define the behavior expected from a student. Through observing teacher’s behavior, the students maybe encouraged or discouraged from similar behaviours. If youth see their teachers go on strike to demand for their rights (which they usually get after strike), or watch television programmes on violence or society does not respect authority, then nothing will present them to also go on strike or be deviant so as to express their anger. According to Osofky (1995) Children learn that violence is a means to control others, especially when it occurs in family relationships and perpetrators go un-punished.