Die behoefte aan ’n multidimensionele benadering tot dissiplineprobleme op skool
Date
2008-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns
Abstract
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie artikel beklemtoon die belangrikheid van behoorlike sosiohistoriese kontekstualisering van
dissipline in skole. Die argument wat deur die skrywers ontwikkel is, is dat skole ’n spieëlbeeld is van
die samelewings waarin dit voorkom en dat hierdie feit in ag geneem moet word wanneer strategieë
vir die hantering van die probleem gekontekstualiseer word. In the Suid-Afrikaanse konteks vra dit vir die erkenning van die impak van eeue van onderdrukking in die koloniale en apartheidsera soos
wat dit verband hou met die huidige probleme in die breër samelewing en in skole. Die argument
wat deur die skrywers ontwikkel word, hou rekening met die belangrikheid van die sosiohistoriese
kontekstualisering van dissiplinêre probleme in skole as ’n sosiale werklikheid en die noodsaak om
probleme in die samelewing met dié in skole in verband te bring. Dit word voorts geargumenteer dat
die komplekse aard van die probleem wat op hierdie wyse blootgelê word, ’n veelfasettige benadering
verg waar alle rolspelers (ook dié buite die skool, op ’n geïntegreerde wyse met die skool saamwerk
om gepaste strategieë te ontwikkel, implementeer, moniteer en evalueer en om dit na kritiese refl eksie
aan te pas, sou die omstandighede dit vereis.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article accentuates the importance of proper socio-historical contextualisation of the problem of discipline in schools. The authors argue that social reality cannot be separated from the socialhistorical development from which it emanates and that schools as social realities can therefore not be separated from the social-historical development from which they originate. The need to caution against disregarding a better understanding of disciplinary problems as well as strategies to address these disciplinary problems that is possible through a historical awareness is emphasised. We consider such a disregard or suppression of the past to be be viewed with the necessary critical suspicion with the intent at revealing underlying ideological dimensions. The argument developed by the authors is that schools mirror the societies in which they are situated and that cognisance should be taken of this when conceptualising strategies to address disciplinary problems. In the South African context this begs for the acknowledgement of the impact of centuries of colonial and apartheid oppression as they relate to current problems in the broader society and in schools. The argument developed emphasises the importance of the socio-historical contextualisation of disciplinary problems in schools as a social reality, and the need to relate problems in society to those in schools. It is further argued that the complex nature of the problems described requires a multi-faceted approach where all role players (also those outside of the school) work together with schools in an integrated manner to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate suitable strategies and to adapt these after critical refl ection, should the circumstances require it. It is argued that collaboration by various state departments, those in schools, as well as the communities within which the schools are situated, is necessary to bring about social justice. Mention is also made of a number of comprehensive multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and the problem of discipline. The authors emphasize the role that educators can play in promoting the idea of a democratic society where people act independently and responsibly, inside as well as outside the school. It is the authors’ conviction that the idea of a democratic society is appropriate for South Africa as the country and its people are striving to move away from its apartheid past to a long-term commitment to non-racialism, non-sexism and the achievement of social justice in all spheres of private and public life. The article strongly argues that educators should be equipped with this orientation – which the narrowly defi ned strategies aimed at dealing with disciplinary problems are lacking. The key argument that the article poses is that the implementation of these narrowly defi ned strategies in isolation is insuffi cient and could be of greater value as part of more comprehensive, multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and disciplinary problems. The view is supported that learners be taught to live in peace daily, without uncertainty and ambivalence, to respect different viewpoints, be critical and self-critical, have an open mind, and with the courage to take responsibility for their choices and the consequences thereof. According to the authors, such a view of education can motivate learners to act responsibly and could go a long way in ensuring that disciplinary problems in schools are eradicated.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This article accentuates the importance of proper socio-historical contextualisation of the problem of discipline in schools. The authors argue that social reality cannot be separated from the socialhistorical development from which it emanates and that schools as social realities can therefore not be separated from the social-historical development from which they originate. The need to caution against disregarding a better understanding of disciplinary problems as well as strategies to address these disciplinary problems that is possible through a historical awareness is emphasised. We consider such a disregard or suppression of the past to be be viewed with the necessary critical suspicion with the intent at revealing underlying ideological dimensions. The argument developed by the authors is that schools mirror the societies in which they are situated and that cognisance should be taken of this when conceptualising strategies to address disciplinary problems. In the South African context this begs for the acknowledgement of the impact of centuries of colonial and apartheid oppression as they relate to current problems in the broader society and in schools. The argument developed emphasises the importance of the socio-historical contextualisation of disciplinary problems in schools as a social reality, and the need to relate problems in society to those in schools. It is further argued that the complex nature of the problems described requires a multi-faceted approach where all role players (also those outside of the school) work together with schools in an integrated manner to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate suitable strategies and to adapt these after critical refl ection, should the circumstances require it. It is argued that collaboration by various state departments, those in schools, as well as the communities within which the schools are situated, is necessary to bring about social justice. Mention is also made of a number of comprehensive multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and the problem of discipline. The authors emphasize the role that educators can play in promoting the idea of a democratic society where people act independently and responsibly, inside as well as outside the school. It is the authors’ conviction that the idea of a democratic society is appropriate for South Africa as the country and its people are striving to move away from its apartheid past to a long-term commitment to non-racialism, non-sexism and the achievement of social justice in all spheres of private and public life. The article strongly argues that educators should be equipped with this orientation – which the narrowly defi ned strategies aimed at dealing with disciplinary problems are lacking. The key argument that the article poses is that the implementation of these narrowly defi ned strategies in isolation is insuffi cient and could be of greater value as part of more comprehensive, multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and disciplinary problems. The view is supported that learners be taught to live in peace daily, without uncertainty and ambivalence, to respect different viewpoints, be critical and self-critical, have an open mind, and with the courage to take responsibility for their choices and the consequences thereof. According to the authors, such a view of education can motivate learners to act responsibly and could go a long way in ensuring that disciplinary problems in schools are eradicated.
Description
CITATION: Van Louw, T. & Waghid, Y. 2008. Die behoefte aan ’n multidimensionele benadering tot dissiplineprobleme op skool. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 48(4):467-476.
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_issuetoc&pid=0041-475120080004&lng=en&nrm=iso
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_issuetoc&pid=0041-475120080004&lng=en&nrm=iso
Keywords
School discipline, Schools -- Sociological aspects
Citation
Van Louw, T. & Waghid, Y. 2008. Die behoefte aan ’n multidimensionele benadering tot dissiplineprobleme op skool. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 48(4):467-476.