I do seriously think that a teacher’s role should not just end inside the classroom, Yes, the classroom is where most of the teaching happens, but discipline, guidance, and character building don’t magically stop once school closes for the day, A teacher is not just there to teach ABC or 1, 2, 3, A teacher is also shaping a human being, and that kind of responsibility goes beyond four walls.
If a teacher sees a student misbehaving outside the school premises, I believe the teacher should be able to step in and correct the child. Not in a harsh way, not in a hot tempered manner, and definitely not with violence, but in a calm and sensible way that doesn’t bring harm to the child. There is a big difference between discipline and abuse, and I think that’s where many people get it wrong. Discipline should be corrective, not destructive.
I say this from experience because I once taught in a primary school a few years ago, during that time, I saw how children behave when they think no one is watching them and sometimes, outside school hours, you will see some of your pupils doing things you know very well they wouldn’t dare do inside school, things like fighting other kids, being rude to elders, roaming around places they should not be, or behaving in a way that clearly shows lack of guidance.
Whenever I saw my pupils doing something wrong outside school, I didn’t just ignore it because school has closed. I would call them, talk to them in a very serious note , and let them know that what they were doing was wrong, Most times, I would tell them off and send them straight home, not by shouting, not also by embarrassing them publicly, but correcting them in a way that they understood I was serious.
There were also situations that passed my own power as a teacher, In cases like that, I followed the child home and reported the situation to their parents, I do strongly believe parents need to be involved in discipline, especially when it happens outside school, A teacher correcting a child and also informing the parents helps everyone stay on the same page, that way, the child understands that bad behaviour has consequences, whether in school or outside.
By doing this, I noticed something important, those children became more careful with their actions, even outside school. They knew that their teacher could see them anywhere and that misbehaving wouldn’t just be brushed aside. It helped them behave better and think twice before doing certain things again.
Now, about the protection for teachers, this is where things now get tricky, Teachers should not be left vulnerable when trying to do the right thing, If discipline is done calmly, responsibly, and without physical harm, I believe teachers should be protected, However, teachers also need to be careful not to overstep boundaries or act out of anger, Once discipline turns into aggression, that is when problems start.
At the end of the day, teachers are role models, Children look up to them, whether they admit it or not. Correcting a child outside school isn’t about power or authority, it’s about guidance. If teachers completely ignore students once they step outside school, then we’re missing a big part of raising responsible children.
So yes, I believe a teacher’s role goes beyond the classroom, as long as discipline is done with care, respect, and the child’s well being in mind, it can only help shape better individuals for the future.
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