Monday, February 17, 2020

Knowledge and Education 43 (crime and punishment)

Raj K Mishra I can say with my almost 30 years of teaching experience and over 3 years experience as the warden of a hostel that no student is criminal, if a student is found involved in seemingly criminal act, the institution, the teachers or other factors are responsible. Many my hostel students are on fb and in my list, Before my joining, there would be violent confrontation between groups with many "dadas"; "Bhaiyas" and "babas", I was put to end their wars of ego without ever allowing Police or giving anyone the honor of rustication. All of us (and other also) hold those 3 years as memorable time of our lives. Those who were dealt more sternly with, have additional respect for me, as our students are intelligent people, they can know the intentions. They all passed out as better human beings and ost of them are in responsible positions. In any position of responsibility if you act -- a. honestly; b. democratically; C. transparently -- you shall always be eventually vindicated.

I still stand by my statement that no student is criminal. At that age they are so much full of energy and do not find institutional ways to channelize that energy creatively. This is also age of identity formation and identity crisis. Some of them feel that they can create an identity by throwing around the weight. Onus lies on teacher to convince them that work identity is the best and life-long lasting. It is also the responsibility of teachers (and of parents at early ages) to help students in creatively channelization of the youthful energy by creating platforms of meaningful socialization. In case of hostel, students GBMs and organization of cultural events might be such platforms. In that hostel students began conducting elections of hostel students union by themselves through elected Election Commission on the pattern of JNUSU elections and the tradition continues.

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