Students Debate Merits Of Teachers' Rough Approach
By Shareen Han

Bandar Seri Begawan - Treating students gently while disciplining them would benefit teacher-student relationships, while using a' rough approach would have serious repercussions, resulting in students running away from home and suffering from emotional stress.

This was the winning argument for the proposition of the topic "Using a Gentle Approach to Discipline Students is More Effective than Using a Rough Approach" in the inter-house Paduka Seri Begawan Science College's Malay debate competition final yesterday.

The proposition team from Laksamana House convinced the judges that using a gentle approach is more effective because it evokes positive response rather than negative sentiments towards students, which could in turn motivate students to change their behaviour for the better.

"Teachers using an aggressive approach will give students the idea that they are not caring and understanding, and these students may suffer from hypertension and stress in the long term," said Dalilah Nabilah Hj Laidin, a Form Five student who was voted the best speaker at the competition.

Her team mate Sulaiman Hj Sufardi, said teachers using a gentle approach will gain respect from students and develop a close relationship with them.

This, she said, makes the approach more effective in disciplining.

Secondary Five students Nurafiqah Abdullah from the opposition team, on the other hand, said that gentle treatment is not effective because it can lead to other social problems among youths.

"For instance, if a student cheats in an exam, we cannot just use a gentle approach, punishment is needed for them to understand that cheating is wrong," said Nurafiqah, who represented Pahlawan House, runners-up of the debate competition.

Hjh Nur Hazwani Hj Umar stressed that using a gentle approach was not a solution for many social issues.

"If teachers deal in a gentle manner with students who smoke in school, will this work?" she asked.

She added that students must be taught to bear responsibilities for their own actions or there will be an increase in crime rates.

Dk Hasimah Pg Hj Hashim, chairperson of the organising committee of the 10th Malay debate competition wrong school houses, said the main objective of the competition was to uncover new talents and encourage enthusiasm and love of the Malay language as the official language of Brunei. "This is also to prepare the students for the Malay debate competition at the national level," she said.

More than 30 students wanted to take part, representing their respective houses for the competition, but only 16 were chosen as suitable candidates for the competition.

Panglima House took the third place. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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