Let's Try Obedience

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The first sin was not that someone ate or didn't eat apple. Disobedience is. With deep sense of regret, people are not trying to be obedient because it feels like the instructions to be obeyed are not kind of pleasant to people. 

Since the use of cane in school for flogging erring students has been banned, it has become.vwey difficult for some teachers to cope with handling learners.

Recently, a team of students in a boarding house wrote a protest to their principal over the way some teachers, dreaded teachers bombard their hostels at odd hours and flog them for not putting their light off. Their excuses were that they slept off while they were reading for an examination for the next day.

In response, the principal told them he would look into the case. He requested that a representative of the students should enter his office to give him details and mention names of the teachers  that are involved in the matter. 

 Representing the students, Adeife entered the principal's office with so much vigour. She was ready to nail the teachers involved. An interrogation ensued between the principal and Adeifa. 

Adeife: Good morning sir. I am glad to finally be in your office.

Principal: You're welcome. You sounded like you dread my office. 

Adeife: Sorry I sounded that way, sir. Majority of the students dread your office. 

The principal heart began to beat fast. Adeife just mentioned something scary. The students have been seeing the principal as draconic. To clear the air on this, the principal cleared his throat and said:

Principal: My office is opened to everyone. Until now, I never knew my person or office is dreaded by you. I will have to address the entire school on this. But first, let's get to this matter of flogging. So, tell me, which of your teachers was involved in flogging the students. 

Now, Adeife is ready to nail the coffin. 

Adeife: Sir, Mr Brown the mathematics teacher and Mr. Abdul the Physical Education teacher are done of using the cane on the students. They both were grossly involved in the beating.

The principal cut in:

Principal: Alright. That will be handled from here. 

Adeife left the office after the short discussion with the principal. One thing that the principal got is that the students are becoming bolder and getting to know their rights.

Quickly, after the meeting with the students representatives, the principal summoned a teachers meeting. There, he scolded the teachers who were reported to be grossly involved in flogging students.

He spoke to them that the new generation law for punishment now sees flogging as a corporal punishment. 

Spear the rod and spoil the child. 

Rather, he suggested that the teachers should adopt academic punishment which will not inflict injuries on the offender but gives them a knowledge on one area of life or the other. Punishment like doing the school farm, carpentry project and whatnot. 

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Thereafter, the principal asked that an emergency bell be jingled to gather the students. When that has been done and the students have gathered. The principal started by addressing the students. 

Good morning students!

They all chorused, good morning sir.

He cleared his throat and began:

My attention has been called to the fact that you students dread the office of the principal. 

All the students shout at the top of their voices. Yes!

Ok. Please, that's quite alarming. My office has always been open to you all and I have had quite a number of students who had come for one issue or the other. If the case they came to report to me is not something that is under my jurisdiction, I'd direct them to whomever would do justice to their matter. So, there was a never a time I closed my office against students.

The students applauded. Then, the principal continued:

Concerning your protest today, I wish to inform you that such actions is accepted in modern times to say what is bugging your minds. So, flogging is now banned in the school. However teachers have been informed to discipline erring students with other punishment rather than flogging. 

As a father, I'd like to tell you that obedience is batter than sacrifice. You should always obey constituted authorities. It really pays to be obedient. Disobedience comes with consequences. 

On this note. The students clapped their hands in appreciation of the principal. They had had a very wrong notion of their principal.  Now they know better.