Indiscipline in schools

 Early morning reflections

Arrogance in Schools: The Consequences of Indiscipline and Entitlement

In many modern schools today , there is a frighteningly  unsettling trend toward fostering arrogance, entitlement, and indiscipline among students. This problem is being exacerbated by a growing emphasis on a casual approach , uncalled for leniency and overprotectiveness, often in the name of promoting freedom or self-expression. While it’s crucial for schools to provide love, kindness, and support to nurture students, it is equally important to keep them grounded in reality and teach them the true value of humility, respect, accountability and responsibility.

Entitled and undisciplined students tend to grow into adults with similar traits, contributing to a culture where selfishness and arrogance flourish. This cycle must be interrupted in schools, as the classroom is a powerful environment for shaping character. It is a delicate balance: children should feel valued, encouraged, loved and safe, but they should not feel that their actions carry no consequences or that school rules are mere suggestions to be flouted at will . It is imperative that parents play their part as well 

Some schools today adopt overly permissive approaches under the guise of modern educational philosophies. 

While it’s true that Victorian-era discipline, with its harsh punishments and rigid authority, is outdated, this doesn’t mean discipline itself should be abandoned. 

On the contrary, a structured and respectful form of discipline—let’s call it instructional discipline—is vital. It sets clear expectations and boundaries, guiding students toward responsible  and accountable behavior while still allowing room for creativity and individuality.

Discipline, when applied consistently and fairly, helps students understand the importance of accountability and consequences. It ensures that freedom is paired with responsibility. 

Without this fine balance, students often  develop an inflated sense of entitlement, believing they are owed things without effort, or that they are exempt from the rules that govern others.

In short, schools must strike a balance between nurturing and disciplining students. 

By doing so, they foster not only kind, well-rounded individuals but also responsible, humble citizens. If we allow discipline to slip in favor of trendy philosophies, we risk producing adults who are not only entitled but also disconnected from the responsibilities of a respectful and harmonious society.

As psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson wisely said, “If you think tough men are dangerous, wait until you see what weak men are capable of.” Strong discipline creates strong character, and that is something the world desperately needs.