Saw something on the ST Forums online today.... Some smart guy substitute the scenario of school and teaching with law and enforcement and it become absurd when you read it. Well, this is one good way to see if something make sense or not. Whether is it applicable in all situations, I'm not sure though. But it sure is interesting. And to end with Thirumoorthy in place of Timothy, sweet.

------------------------------------------------

Reason is the key towards teacher-student respect I WOULD like to comment on the on-going discussion on the problematic teacher and student behaviour in schools.

I believe much confusion lies on the nature of respect, how one should gain it and who should demonstrate it first.

In a modern civilised world, people function in society by dealing with logic and reason that makes them mature gentlemen and gentlewomen. Such civilised people are naturally given respect by others for their ability to think and behave logically and reasonably, and to be charitable.

In cases where the practice of logical and reasonable thought and behaviour is deficient in schools, it would manifest into improper and unruly behaviour whether from teachers or students.

If a student does not follow the rules in class, it is the onus of teachers to find out the true reason for such behaviour which could be disruptive towards learning, instead of being evasive by blaming it all on the student and punishing them. Punishment as a form of deterrence resolves nothing and does not prevent recurrences of the same problem.

I do not believe in the effectiveness of physical forms of punishment as they do not deal with the true causes of students' unreasonable thought and behaviour. Such punishments do not demonstrate good reason and civilised behaviour to be modelled after. Any dysfunction in a student's reasoning judgment and behaviour should be properly resolved by reason and understanding.

If teachers do not wish to understand the true causes of students' rule-breaking by engaging with them, then they would be seen as being immature to constructive reasoning and thus lose the proper respect and reasonable treatment.

Besides the imparting of knowledge, education in schools also includes the responsibility of educators to demonstrate maturity through the teaching of reasonable thought and behaviour. Such good practice in schools would ultimately have a beneficial influence on students as well as society.

Timothy Tang Nam Yen

--------------------------------------------------------------

Reason is the key towards law enforcement

I WOULD like to comment on the on-going discussion on law enforcement and criminal education in Singapore.

I believe much confusion lies on the nature of respect, how one party should gain it and who should demonstrate it first.

In a modern civilised world, people function in society by dealing with logic and reason that makes them mature gentlemen and gentlewomen. Such civilised people are naturally given respect by others for their ability to think and behave logically and reasonably, and to be charitable, and not be simply enforcing rules by the book.

In cases where the practice of logical and reasonable thought and behaviour is deficient in a particular nation, it would manifest into improper and unruly behaviour whether from law-abiding citizens or hardcore criminals.

If a citizen does not follow the rules of the nation, it is the onus of law enforcement agencies to find out the true reason for such behaviour which could be disruptive towards law enforcement, instead of being evasive by blaming it all on the criminal and punishing them. Punishment as a form of deterrence resolves nothing and does not prevent recurrences of the same problem.

I do not believe in the effectiveness of physical forms of punishment (e.g. caning) as they do not deal with the true causes of criminals' unreasonable thought and behaviour. Such punishments do not demonstrate good reason and civilised behaviour to be modelled after. Any dysfunction in a criminal's reasoning judgment and behaviour should be properly resolved by reason and understanding.

If law makers and enforcers do not wish to understand the true causes of citizens' rule-breaking by engaging with them, then they would be seen as being immature to constructive reasoning and thus lose the proper respect and reasonable treatment.

Besides the enforcement of laws, law enforcement agencies in any nation should demonstrate maturity through the teaching of reasonable thought and behaviour. Such good practice in a nation would ultimately have a beneficial influence on criminals as well as the law-abiding citizens of Singapore.

Mr Thirumoorthy T.