DEAR Editor,-
Port Shepstone Secondary School has chosen an elite group of ‘discipline monitors’, but what gets me pondering on the topic of discipline monitors, is the process of how they are chosen. At the beginning of August, before the announcement of the discipline monitors, one of the chosen had demonstrated excellent skills of violence against another pupil.
I am surprised to see that Port Shepstone Secondary has chosen a set of well-behaved ambassadors for the school. The question that I have for the school principal and governing body is, why are discipline monitors only chosen by academic achievments?
I personally feel that this is a biased decision, choosing pupils who are academically inclined. What happens to pupils with an average academia, who respect teachers and peers, uphold the school’s good name, and make a positive difference to the school? I am sure that the teachers involved in this decision do know their pupils and it doesn’t take someone with Einstein’s IQ to reach the conclusion that not all pupils have the brain capacity to pull off straight As and Bs.
There should be some insight at the beginning of the year as to how this decision will be made later in the year. Giving pupils insight will motivate them to strive towards becoming a discipline monitor and some who should have been chosen, display better attitude and leadership qualities towards peers and teachers, show an interest in their schoolwork and complete any task handed to them to the best of their ability.
They often lend a helping hand and show a smile, are not shy to work at special events hosted by the school, during and after school hours.
I call for a revision of the name ‘discipline monitors’. If it is based on academics, it should be known as ‘academic monitors’, and discipline monitors should be those who are all-rounders, in the sense that they uphold the name and motto of the school, but have an average academia.
In school we are taught not to be biased. How can some pupils, who have a clean record and average academia, be brushed aside because they lack a specific level of intelligence?
AVERAGE STUDENT
