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Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe

On-line version ISSN 2224-7912
Print version ISSN 0041-4751

Tydskr. geesteswet. vol.48 n.4 Pretoria  2008

 

Die behoefte aan 'n multidimensionele benadering tot dissiplineprobleme op skool

 

The need for a multi-dimensional approach to the problem of discipline in schools

 

 

Trevor van Louw; Yusef Waghid

Sentrum vir Leierskap en Bestuur in die Onderwys, Universiteit Stellenbosch vanlouwt@sun.ac.za

 

 


OPSOMMING

Hierdie artikel beklemtoon die belangrikheid van behoorlike sosiohistoriese kontekstualisering van dissipline in skole. Die argument wat deur die skrywers ontwikkel is, is dat skole 'n spieëlbeeld is van die samelewings waarin dit voorkom en dat hierdie feit in ag geneem moet word wanneer strategieë vir die hantering van die probleem gekontekstualiseer word. In the Suid-Afrikaanse konteks vra dit vir die erkenning van die impak van eeue van onderdrukking in die koloniale en apartheidsera soos wat dit verband hou met die huidige probleme in die breër samelewing en in skole. Die argument wat deur die skrywers ontwikkel word, hou rekening met die belangrikheid van die sosiohistoriese kontekstualisering van dissiplinêre probleme in skole as 'n sosiale werklikheid en die noodsaak om probleme in die samelewing met dié in skole in verband te bring. Dit word voorts geargumenteer dat die komplekse aard van die probleem wat op hierdie wyse blootgelê word, 'n veelfasettige benadering verg waar alle rolspelers (ook dié buite die skool, op 'n geïntegreerde wyse met die skool saamwerk om gepaste strategieë te ontwikkel, implementeer, moniteer en evalueer en om dit na kritiese refleksie aan te pas, sou die omstandighede dit vereis.

Trefwoorde: Dissipline, sosio-historiese konteks, multidimensionele benadering, demokrasie, samewerking


ABSTRACT

This article accentuates the importance of proper socio-historical contextualisation of the problem of discipline in schools. The authors argue that social reality cannot be separated from the social-historical development from which it emanates and that schools as social realities can therefore not be separated from the social-historical development from which they originate.
The need to caution against disregarding a better understanding of disciplinary problems as well as strategies to address these disciplinary problems that is possible through a historical awareness is emphasised. We consider such a disregard or suppression of the past to be be viewed with the necessary critical suspicion with the intent at revealing underlying ideological dimensions.
The argument developed by the authors is that schools mirror the societies in which they are situated and that cognisance should be taken of this when conceptualising strategies to address disciplinary problems. In the South African context this begs for the acknowledgement of the impact of centuries of colonial and apartheid oppression as they relate to current problems in the broader society and in schools.
The argument developed emphasises the importance of the socio-historical contextualisation of disciplinary problems in schools as a social reality, and the need to relate problems in society to those in schools. It is further argued that the complex nature of the problems described requires a multi-faceted approach where all role players (also those outside of the school) work together with schools in an integrated manner to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate suitable strategies and to adapt these after critical reflection, should the circumstances require it.
It is argued that collaboration by various state departments, those in schools, as well as the communities within which the schools are situated, is necessary to bring about social justice. Mention is also made of a number of comprehensive multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and the problem of discipline.
The authors emphasize the role that educators can play in promoting the idea of a democratic society where people act independently and responsibly, inside as well as outside the school. It is the authors' conviction that the idea of a democratic society is appropriate for South Africa as the country and its people are striving to move away from its apartheid past to a long-term commitment to non-racialism, non-sexism and the achievement of social justice in all spheres of private and public life. The article strongly argues that educators should be equipped with this orientation - which the narrowly defined strategies aimed at dealing with disciplinary problems are lacking. The key argument that the article poses is that the implementation of these narrowly defined strategies in isolation is insufficient and could be of greater value as part of more comprehensive, multi-disciplinary strategies which take proper cognisance of the relationship between social-historical context and disciplinary problems.
The view is supported that learners be taught to live in peace daily, without uncertainty and ambivalence, to respect different viewpoints, be critical and self-critical, have an open mind, and with the courage to take responsibility for their choices and the consequences thereof.
According to the authors, such a view of education can motivate learners to act responsibly and could go a long way in ensuring that disciplinary problems in schools are eradicated.

Key concepts: Discipline, socio-historical context, multi-dimensional approach, democracy, collaboration


 

Full text available only in PDF format. 

 

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Trevor van Louw dien sedert 2007 as direktem van die Sentrum vir Onderwysleierskap en -Bestuur van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch (Selebous) Die sentrum word in die Fakulteit Opvoedkunde gehuis ves en fokus op die ontwikkeling van die kapasiteit van onderwysbestuurslui. Hy was voor sy huidige posisie 'n sekondêre skool onderwyser, kurrikulum adviseur en projekbestuurder van skoolverbeteringsprojekte in Weskaapse skole.

Sy navorsingsbelangstellings fokus op Onder-wysleierskap en -bestuur, geheelskoolontwikkeling en skoolverbetering.

Hy dien tans op die bestuur van Lead Link, 'n netwerk van organisasies in Suider- en Oos-Afrika wat fokus op die kapasiteitsverbetering van bestuurslui in die onderwys.

Trevor van Louw has been serving as Director of the Centre for Educational Leadership and Management of the University of Stellenbosch (CELEMUS) since June 2007. The centre is accommodated in the Faculty of Education and focuses on the development of the capacity of educational leaders. He served as a secondary school educator, curriculum advisor and project manager of school improvement projects in Western Cape schools.

His research interest involves educational leadership and management, whole school development, and school improvement.

He is currently serving on the executive of the Lead Link, Network of Organisations in Southern and Eastern Africa which focuses on capacity development of managers in Education.

Yusef Waghid is Professor in die Filosofie van die Opvoedkunde en dekaan van die fakulteit Opvoedkunde aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch. Sy huidige navorsing fokus op beraadslagende demokratiese onderwys, burgerskap en kosmopolitanisme.

Yusef Waghid is Professor of Philosophy of Education and Dean of the faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University. His current research focuses on deliberative democratic education, citizenship and cosmopolitanism.

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