Have Schools become too liberal?
Jun 21, 2011
FOUR years ago when James Otim was a student in one of the prominent schools, only day dances were allowed at school. The girls were thoroughly inspected before entering the dance hall to ensure they were decently dressed. There was a rule on how the girls and boys conducted themselves during the d
Moralists say the current entertainment in some schools is X-rated and not properly supervised
By Doreen Murungi
and Angela Ndagano
FOUR years ago when James Otim was a student in one of the prominent schools, only day dances were allowed at school. The girls were thoroughly inspected before entering the dance hall to ensure they were decently dressed. There was a rule on how the girls and boys conducted themselves during the dance under the close supervision of teachers.
However, Otim’s recent reunion at his former school left him astonished. “The girls’ skirts were skimpier than what was permitted back then. We had a rule of day dances which strictly ended at 6.00pm, but these days the dances go on up to 10:00pm in the night,†Otim says.
The new entertainment trend in schools is raising debate among educationists and moralists. Moralists say the current entertainment in some schools is X-rated and not properly supervised.
Have schools gone too far?
Entertainment is steadily becoming a big issue in schools. Some students have gone on strike after being denied dances. The integration of music shows, movie nights, day and night dances is a common trend in many schools. But how innocent is this entertainment?
“I personally do not let my children go to night clubs, therefore, I do not expect schools to introduce them to night dances, isn’t that why students end up escaping from home to go and dance during holidays? I have heard of cases where students, with the help of the entertainment prefect, lock themselves in a room and watch adult movies,†says Regina Matovu, a parent. Other parents echo similar views.
“Why should schools introduce things we discourage at home, like discos?†Jane Namitala questions.
“I have encountered cases in my career where you find entertainment prefects watching television in dormitories without supervision,†says George William Semivule, the head teacher of Mengo Senior Secondary School.
Watch out for academic standards
Van Kalema, a teacher at Namilyango Secondary School, says unsupervised entertainment can affect the academic performance of the school. If students are always having entertainment shows, they may spend time practising for the show and have low concentration in class.
“If a dance or show is once or twice in term that is okay. It reduces boredom and helps students refresh but a vigorous entertainment schedule may deter concentration. A parent cannot pay so much money only to find his or her child more interested in entertainment than academic work,†Kalema explains.
Too much freedom?
Bonniface Ochellum, the head teacher of Awere Senior Secondary School in Gulu says bringing artists to entertain and a dance thereafter has become a culture; “Some schools use it as a way of initiating new students.â€
Although some schools feel that these entertainment programmes are a good way of keeping students from engaging in bad behaviour arising from being idle, on the contrary it is initiating students to unscrupulous behaviour. Baaka Male, the headmaster of Kings College Buddo believes that entertainment in schools needs to be redefined, “We need to have educative entertainment in schools, any form of entertainment that does not add value to the students should not be included,†Male says.
If students need the entertainment, what should be done to ensure parents and educators are not at logger heads?
“Schools should uphold values even as they choose an entertainment option, there should be a lesson learned,†Kasasa says.
Male says entertainment prefects should not be given full access to things like television, “In Buddo we have an entertainment committee with students and teachers, the committee evaluates the kind of entertainment and decides on the kind of entertainment to show,†Male says.
Semivule says entertainment needs to be supervised, “If it cannot be supervised, it is better you leave it alone.†He adds that Schools should grade entertainment.
“There is a reason different kinds of entertainment are rated according to age, schools should have the age in mind, if you are providing entertainment for the whole school, what is watched by Senior Six students should be applicable to Senior Ones.â€
The location of the school and the time should be put in mind as schools choose entertainment options. Some schools are located near places where students can escape and get alcohol. Ochellum advises such schools not to hold dances at night.
Supervised entertainment is good
Fred Mbaine, a parent has no problem with children having entertainment but says it should not go un-guided. Educationists believe some parents are forgetting their role and are pinning their lack of responsibility on well-intended school programmes.
“Parents believe children should go to school to study. However, there is need for balance. It is healthy for students to have entertainment. As young stars, they need it. Some parents shun responsibility. Parents should play their part and not overly condemn entertainment,†says Father Henry Kasasa, the headteacher of Uganda Martyrs Senior Secondary School, Namugongo.
Semivule backs him saying: “Entertainment is part of formative grooming. It should be a must in schools.â€
Paul Mark Ogul, a teacher at St Mary’s College Kitovu also believes entertainment is necessary. “It helps students release pressure.â€
Ochellum supports the need for entertainment but is against entertainment at night, “It is harder to monitor students at night.â€
EDUCATION MINISTRY’S VIEW
According to Aggrey Kibenge, the Under Secretary/spokesperson of Ministry of Education, all schools are supposed to provide some form of entertainment.
However, he says schools are responsible for the kind of entertainment they provide. The power lies within the school and its board of governors.
“The ministry cannot come in and regulate the kind of entertainment schools provide, it is up to the schools to provide entertainment which they are able to control. It is a sign of weakness on the schools side if they fail to monitor students during entertainment. If you decide to have a music show you have to be able to control what happens.
VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC
Henry Ntege, the deputy headteacher, African Secondary School
Entertainment is good because it gives students an opportunity to interact with one another. However, when it goes till late in the night, it becomes very problematic. Students use it as an opportunity to misbehave. It is important for schools to have time limits.
Aggrey Kagwa, a student
Schools need entertainment because it helps us relax. We also get to learn the latest dancing moves when other schools visit. But, it is difficult to monitor students during entertainment. However much teachers try, students will always beat the system. For example, some people enter the dance hall with uniforms yet they have skimpy clothes underneath.
Salwa Nava, a student
The problem is that spoilt children use the entertainment time to misbehave. My friend goes to a single girl’s school and they usually have dances till very late in the night. She told me when it gets dark, girls sneak boys into their dormitories.
Sharon Nakajubi, a student
Entertainment that goes till very late is not good because older students use the time to take advantage of the younger ones. For instance, if a Senior Six boy likes a Senior Two girl, he uses the chance to approach her.
Aisha Nakalema, a parent
There is nothing wrong with children having entertainment. The issue of misbehaving depends on a child’s upbringing. A child who is brought up well will not misbehave during entertainment. Things like dancing are part of a stage that all children have to go through.
Muhammad Lwegaba, a parent
Entertainment is good because it helps children to develop interactive skills. However, children have two faces. A child might appear harmless yet they become mischievous in the absence of supervision. Children, especially adolescents, are very curious about each other’s bodies. When you live them unsupervised in the dance halls they tend to quench their curiosity.
Mariam Nabatanzi, a parent
It is not good to have entertainment that is not well supervised. When a child misbehaves and becomes pregnant, the burden falls onto the parent. The school will just expel the child.
What type of entertainment should schools have?
Send your views, to Mwalimu, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala;
Email: mwalimu@newvision.co.ug Or SMS: Type mwalimu [leave space], your views, name, contact then send to 8338
By Doreen Murungi
and Angela Ndagano
FOUR years ago when James Otim was a student in one of the prominent schools, only day dances were allowed at school. The girls were thoroughly inspected before entering the dance hall to ensure they were decently dressed. There was a rule on how the girls and boys conducted themselves during the dance under the close supervision of teachers.
However, Otim’s recent reunion at his former school left him astonished. “The girls’ skirts were skimpier than what was permitted back then. We had a rule of day dances which strictly ended at 6.00pm, but these days the dances go on up to 10:00pm in the night,†Otim says.
The new entertainment trend in schools is raising debate among educationists and moralists. Moralists say the current entertainment in some schools is X-rated and not properly supervised.
Have schools gone too far?
Entertainment is steadily becoming a big issue in schools. Some students have gone on strike after being denied dances. The integration of music shows, movie nights, day and night dances is a common trend in many schools. But how innocent is this entertainment?
“I personally do not let my children go to night clubs, therefore, I do not expect schools to introduce them to night dances, isn’t that why students end up escaping from home to go and dance during holidays? I have heard of cases where students, with the help of the entertainment prefect, lock themselves in a room and watch adult movies,†says Regina Matovu, a parent. Other parents echo similar views.
“Why should schools introduce things we discourage at home, like discos?†Jane Namitala questions.
“I have encountered cases in my career where you find entertainment prefects watching television in dormitories without supervision,†says George William Semivule, the head teacher of Mengo Senior Secondary School.
Watch out for academic standards
Van Kalema, a teacher at Namilyango Secondary School, says unsupervised entertainment can affect the academic performance of the school. If students are always having entertainment shows, they may spend time practising for the show and have low concentration in class.
“If a dance or show is once or twice in term that is okay. It reduces boredom and helps students refresh but a vigorous entertainment schedule may deter concentration. A parent cannot pay so much money only to find his or her child more interested in entertainment than academic work,†Kalema explains.
Too much freedom?
Bonniface Ochellum, the head teacher of Awere Senior Secondary School in Gulu says bringing artists to entertain and a dance thereafter has become a culture; “Some schools use it as a way of initiating new students.â€
Although some schools feel that these entertainment programmes are a good way of keeping students from engaging in bad behaviour arising from being idle, on the contrary it is initiating students to unscrupulous behaviour. Baaka Male, the headmaster of Kings College Buddo believes that entertainment in schools needs to be redefined, “We need to have educative entertainment in schools, any form of entertainment that does not add value to the students should not be included,†Male says.
If students need the entertainment, what should be done to ensure parents and educators are not at logger heads?
“Schools should uphold values even as they choose an entertainment option, there should be a lesson learned,†Kasasa says.
Male says entertainment prefects should not be given full access to things like television, “In Buddo we have an entertainment committee with students and teachers, the committee evaluates the kind of entertainment and decides on the kind of entertainment to show,†Male says.
Semivule says entertainment needs to be supervised, “If it cannot be supervised, it is better you leave it alone.†He adds that Schools should grade entertainment.
“There is a reason different kinds of entertainment are rated according to age, schools should have the age in mind, if you are providing entertainment for the whole school, what is watched by Senior Six students should be applicable to Senior Ones.â€
The location of the school and the time should be put in mind as schools choose entertainment options. Some schools are located near places where students can escape and get alcohol. Ochellum advises such schools not to hold dances at night.
Supervised entertainment is good
Fred Mbaine, a parent has no problem with children having entertainment but says it should not go un-guided. Educationists believe some parents are forgetting their role and are pinning their lack of responsibility on well-intended school programmes.
“Parents believe children should go to school to study. However, there is need for balance. It is healthy for students to have entertainment. As young stars, they need it. Some parents shun responsibility. Parents should play their part and not overly condemn entertainment,†says Father Henry Kasasa, the headteacher of Uganda Martyrs Senior Secondary School, Namugongo.
Semivule backs him saying: “Entertainment is part of formative grooming. It should be a must in schools.â€
Paul Mark Ogul, a teacher at St Mary’s College Kitovu also believes entertainment is necessary. “It helps students release pressure.â€
Ochellum supports the need for entertainment but is against entertainment at night, “It is harder to monitor students at night.â€
EDUCATION MINISTRY’S VIEW
According to Aggrey Kibenge, the Under Secretary/spokesperson of Ministry of Education, all schools are supposed to provide some form of entertainment.
However, he says schools are responsible for the kind of entertainment they provide. The power lies within the school and its board of governors.
“The ministry cannot come in and regulate the kind of entertainment schools provide, it is up to the schools to provide entertainment which they are able to control. It is a sign of weakness on the schools side if they fail to monitor students during entertainment. If you decide to have a music show you have to be able to control what happens.
VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC
Henry Ntege, the deputy headteacher, African Secondary School
Entertainment is good because it gives students an opportunity to interact with one another. However, when it goes till late in the night, it becomes very problematic. Students use it as an opportunity to misbehave. It is important for schools to have time limits.
Aggrey Kagwa, a student
Schools need entertainment because it helps us relax. We also get to learn the latest dancing moves when other schools visit. But, it is difficult to monitor students during entertainment. However much teachers try, students will always beat the system. For example, some people enter the dance hall with uniforms yet they have skimpy clothes underneath.
Salwa Nava, a student
The problem is that spoilt children use the entertainment time to misbehave. My friend goes to a single girl’s school and they usually have dances till very late in the night. She told me when it gets dark, girls sneak boys into their dormitories.
Sharon Nakajubi, a student
Entertainment that goes till very late is not good because older students use the time to take advantage of the younger ones. For instance, if a Senior Six boy likes a Senior Two girl, he uses the chance to approach her.
Aisha Nakalema, a parent
There is nothing wrong with children having entertainment. The issue of misbehaving depends on a child’s upbringing. A child who is brought up well will not misbehave during entertainment. Things like dancing are part of a stage that all children have to go through.
Muhammad Lwegaba, a parent
Entertainment is good because it helps children to develop interactive skills. However, children have two faces. A child might appear harmless yet they become mischievous in the absence of supervision. Children, especially adolescents, are very curious about each other’s bodies. When you live them unsupervised in the dance halls they tend to quench their curiosity.
Mariam Nabatanzi, a parent
It is not good to have entertainment that is not well supervised. When a child misbehaves and becomes pregnant, the burden falls onto the parent. The school will just expel the child.
What type of entertainment should schools have?
Send your views, to Mwalimu, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala;
Email: mwalimu@newvision.co.ug Or SMS: Type mwalimu [leave space], your views, name, contact then send to 8338