Being a teacher is no easy task. Aside from dealing with struggles at work and personal lives, teachers constantly stuggle dealing with students who lack discipline and show little respect.
Loida G. Perez, a teacher at Baganga Central Elementary School, said she has observed that behavior of kids nowadays are nothing to rave about.
“Wala na'y respeto ang mga bata ‘ron halos labyan na gani ka kung ‘di ka mailhang maestra. Di man lang gani mo-greet (Kids these days have little respect. If they do not know you, they will not greet you),” the 55-year-old teacher said.
Darriel Mae Del Castillo, a new teacher, said it can be more stressful to handle learners with behavioral problems than those with intellectual issues.
Teachers have noted that boys have a tendency to either instigate or be involved in bullying, quarreling, stealing, and destroying school's property.
This is not only present in public schools but also in private schools; evident when a bullying video at a prominent school in Metro Manila went viral.
Nevertheless, teachers have taken the parental role by reinforcing “positive discipline” that would help resolve, if not eradicate the issue. The time spend by students at school is an opportunity for teachers to address some of the students' needs.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) urges parents to do their part in disciplining their children for they have greater influence and direct connection with their kids.
“Naa sa kamot sa mga ginikanan ang malamposong pagdisiplina sa ilang mga anak. Sa ilang mga tagsa-tagsa ka balay, nagsugod kining tanan (Discipline starts at home and it is in the hands of the parents to enforce that discipline),” Del Castillo said. (Mark Fil Tagsip, teacher at DepEd Davao Oriental)