Balancing justice, correction, and human development
It has long been said that to err is human. In the classroom, this truth is clearly visible: children, naturally curious, often test boundaries and sometimes overstep them, knowingly or unknowingly. For educators, acting in loco parentis, the responsibility goes far beyond simply punishing misbehaviour. Their task is to correct, guide, and nurture learners into responsible members of society. The Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, which is currently at the centre of debate in South Africa, brings into sharp focus a fundamental question: how can schools maintain order and fairness while upholding learners’ dignity and supporting their development?
Why discipline matters
Nearly a third of learners leave school prematurely, and ill-discipline plays a significant role in this worrying trend. Discipline, therefore, is not…
