INDISCIPLINE AND ITS EFFECTS ON CHILDREN’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

ABSTRACT

This research work aims to explore indiscipline and its effects on children’s academic performance in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. It also seeks to investigate the effects of indiscipline and its control. A total sample size of hundred (100) respondents were used for the research work, questionnaires were used to collect data for the study with respect to indiscipline and its effects on children’s academic performance. This study therefore recommends that there should be constant communication between the schools and parents of the pupils and inclusion of moral and religious training when planning curriculum. 

CHAPTER ONE 1.0   INTRODUCTION 1.1   BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

          As discipline is a habit of good behaviour generally acceptable or accepted by the standard of norms and values of the society, this should be a behaviour portrayed by a normal human being. On the other hand, indiscipline is the lack of good behaviour that is not generally accepted in a particular society. Edem (1982) states that indiscipline is the violation of school rules and regulations which is capable of obstructing the smooth and orderly functioning of the school system

          Indiscipline is the inability of pupils to give respect to authorities, observe and obey school rules and regulations.

          There are various attitudes of indiscipline portrayed by pupils in schools, such behaviours include: disobedience to school authorities, vandalizing school properties, lateness to school, rudeness to the teachers and bullying of teachers and fellow pupils.

          Indiscipline has been seen as the direct opposite of discipline which is the cultivation of bad habit or immoral behaviour that reflects and becomes a threat or harm to the peers, parents, teachers and other educational administrators which can lead to unrest or chaos.

          These deviant and unaccepted attitudes have no doubt turned cankerworm that has eaten deep into the generation that ought to be protected and preserved for better and greater future.

          On a general note, indiscipline has been attributed majorly to the nature of a particular pupil and how he/she relates with others either in the school or in the society at large. This act of indiscipline has been a delinquent character whereby when a pupil misbehaves, it means that such pupil is not maintaining the rules and regulations of his/her school.

          Many factors are responsible for the act of indiscipline. Examples are: peer group influence, heredity, broken homes or divorced parents, school life, environmental factor, parents’ non-challant attitudes towards their children among others and so on. This unwanted and unaccepted behaviour can be limited, avoided or eradicated if parent teacher association (P.T.A) meeting holds regularly during which parents will be enlightened on how well to handle their wards and not leave all the training to teachers alone.

          There should be laws to guide the pupils as well. Parents should not relent on their effort until any bad or unaccepted behaviour sighted or found in their children is corrected. “Train up your child in the way he should go” as was quoted in the bible in the book of Proverbs 22 : 6, Every couple should teach and lead their children in the way of the lord and feed them with His Words on a daily basis.

          Pearse, in her novel for kiddies stated that “A disciplined child is the pride of his parents”. Our children should be disciplined to make us proud.

          The effects of indiscipline on a child cannot be controversial because it tells on the child himself, such a child becomes weird and notorious in nature. He will bully his peers in school and subject the whole class to chaos if not curbed or controlled by the class-teacher, school authority and parent. The society at large also experiences unrest as a result of these nasty behaviours.

          Indiscipline has to be curbed while at a tender level before it becomes uncontrollable and difficult to handle. Teachers should gear up their task in handling their pupils, most especially the ones with traits of waywardness and inform the parents about them, the society as a whole must continue to mould and correct all sort of nasty and defiant character so they won’t turn menace to the society.

          To put in a nutshell, indiscipline is regarded and seen as lack of indiscipline which is characterized by indecorous behaviours such as truancy, bullying, lying, stealing, slandering rumours, rudeness and many other defiant behaviours which are part of social vices in the society today.

          It has become glaring that indiscipline is rampant among pupils today especially in primary schools even up to secondary schools. Proprietors, Proprietresses, and many other stakeholders in the educational sector are worried about the rate at which pupils are getting out of school and are not disciplined. In view of the above, the researcher was moved to carry out this research.

1.2   STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

          As discipline portrays a good behaviour that a normal human being should exhibit, indiscipline on the other hand is a thing of shame and embarrassment.

          The following are various attitudes of indiscipline in primary schools: lateness to the school, being rude to teachers, roaming about the school premises while lesson is going on in the classroom, making a noise, disturbing others who are ready to learn and lack of concentration during lesson periods and so on. This has been of major concern in the educational sector.

          The researcher therefore seeks to find the causes of these notorious and nasty behaviours called indiscipline which metamorphoses into many deadly social vices, the effects on pupil’s academic performance and the ways to curb it on time so that schools, homes and societies will experience peace.

1.3   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

          In order to justify the need for curbing the act of indiscipline in children generally, the followings are the objectives of the study.

i.              To state what indiscipline is

ii.            To identify the various acts of indiscipline

iii.           To identify the effects of indiscipline

iv.           To suggest ways by which indiscipline can be controlled

1.4   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY           

          This research work will be significant to teachers, parents and head of schools. It will also be useful to proprietors, proprietresses, school supervisors, headmasters, headmistresses and other school administrators as well as other researchers who are interested in working on this relevant issue. Other stakeholders in education will also benefit from the research outcome.

1.5   SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          This study focuses on Indiscipline and its effects on Pupils Academic Performance in Primary Schools in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

1.6   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          In order to justify this research work the researcher uses the following research questions:

i.             What is indiscipline?

ii.           What are the causes of indiscipline?

iii.          What are the effects of indiscipline on pupil’s academic performance?

iv.          What are the ways to curb these acts?

1.7   DEFINITION OF TERMS

          In order to have thorough understanding of this research work, here are the relevant terms defined as used in the project.

NORMS: Situations or patterns of behaviour that is usual or expected.

VALUE: Beliefs about what is right and wrong and what is important in life.

VIOLATION: To go against or refuse to obey laws.

INDECOROUS: Embarrassing or not socially acceptable.

EDUCATION: A process of teaching, training and learning to improve knowledge and develop skills.

CHARACTER: All the qualities and features that makes a person, group of people and places different from others.

DISCIPLINE: To portray a good behaviour generally accepted by the standard of norms and values in the society.

ATTITUDE: Someone’s opinion or feelings about something especially as shown by their behaviour.

BEHAVIOUR: The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.

DEFIANT: Resistance or disobedience.

PERSONALITY: The various aspects of a person’s character that combines to make them different from other people.

INDISCIPLINE: Lack of discipline, being disobedient.

DEVIANT: Deviating from accepted standards.