THE PERCEPTION OF TEACHERS ON THE CAUSES OF INDISCIPLINE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF USELU SECONDARY SCHOOL IN EGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

For obvious reason, we might be tempted to undermine the theme of this paper. Reasons are not far fetched; the topic most academic will say is of common place discourse in the nook and crannies of the country and the world at large. However, we make bold to state here that these are mere assumptions. The topic demands our serious consideration and resolution because of its visible impediment to national growth and development. Currencies are without doubt apparent. This being so, a clear understanding of a topic begin with an espies on the meaning of the term indiscipline. Indiscipline, a derivative of the word, discipline, according to the chambers twentieth century dictionary is a mode of life in accordance with rules subjection to control.

The oxford advance learner’s dictionary defines it as a lack of control in the behaviour of a group of people. Tulihi and Bello (1980) assert that indiscipline is the breaking of rule and regulation of institutions. According to Uwagie Ero et al (2002) indiscipline is a state of disorder used by lack of training and control to the end. Indiscipline can simply be seen as a mode of life not in conformity with rules and regulation capable of obstructing the smooth and orderly, functioning in the school system. Adeyemo (1985) school rules and regulations in most cases do affect students more than any other thing because they are made by the school authorities in order to guide and protect the students while in school. The problem of indiscipline is more apparent among school students. Indiscipline among them has attracted serious attention of scholars and administrators. These scholars and administrators attribute indiscipline among public secondary school students in their state of development. They opined that when students notice certain biological changes signaling maturity in the course of their growth and development, they tend to misbehave by faulting school rules and regulations (Mukharjee 1985).

The causes of indiscipline are based on the acts of indiscipline among students in public secondary schools range from deviation from simple norms and instruction of heinous crime infact the list is inexhaustible. Ozula (1986) listed some act of indiscipline which include disobedience, vandalisation, quarreling, fighting, rioting, wickedness, absenteeism, violence, dishonesty, arson, idleness, disorderliness, laziness, smuggling, jealousy, gossip, drunkenness, greed, selfishness, discrimination, corruption, bribery, drug abuse, sex, and raping. Others are lawlessness, kidnapping, murder, oppression, misappropriation of fund and mismanagement. Disobedience is the mother of indiscipline. According to the Holy Bible, from the book of Genesis 1:26, 3:6 says that God created the world and made man above everything therein still man sinned-disobeyed God by eating the forbidding fruit the consequence of this indiscipline was great, God cursed man and drove him out of the garden of Eden.