Goolbai Gunasekara

This seems a ridiculous question indeed. The answer may seem obvious. A school’s rights over its pupils ends at the school gate …. Or so think some parents these days who actually allow their offspring to visit nightclubs while still under 18.

The stupidity of parents who allow such freedom of action can hardly be exaggerated. Parents not only provide the money but also the transport to their youngsters, many of whom have barely passed their driving test (and sometimes have no licence at all!)  These juveniles are often on the verge of sitting for their final AL exams. But instead of doing any studying at home are dependent on massive doses of Private Tuition, costing their parents almost as much as their school fees.

Of course, incidents take place, and the school is informed. I can’t think why the school is blamed for their poor behaviour. Schools are hardly responsible for what such kids do on their own. But there seems to be a general belief that whenever a child behaves badly, the school needs to be brought into focus as having somehow contributed to this delinquency.

Several decades ago, a murder was committed by a young man who had long since left school and was certainly not under the jurisdiction of his Principal, who had probably not set eyes on him for quite a few years. Yet, every time the murder was mentioned in the Press ( and it often made headlines), the schools of both the young man and his victim were highlighted as if somehow there was a lack of ethical instruction which could have been addressed by the school somewhere along the way.

But how, when and where? All Government schools have taught religion for the last 50 years, and yet the crime rate has never been higher. Schools, therefore, have little or no influence on what kids do outside school.

In earlier times ( as in my Mother’s day as Principal of several big Colombo schools), she was able to lay down the law in total denial of any personal rights of her students. In short, Principals at that time played God with no dissension from parents whatsoever. Parents of both boys or girls would not dream of arguing with the dictates of their  Principal.. 

My own Form Teacher, Miss Cockburn, at Bishop’s College, had plenty to say when she  ‘caught’ three of her students who were WITH THEIR PARENTS at a Galle Face Prom Concert of classical music. She was there herself, and the presence of 3 of her students upset her equilibrium mightily. She tackled us in class on Monday.. 

“ Chereen. Stand”.  Quaking, Chereen, who was the class beauty, did so. “What were you doing at the Galle Face Hotel at all hours of the night, may I ask?” Bifocals glinting dangerously, she glared at us.

‘But Miss. I was with my parents.” “You may have been there with God himself. You are NEVER to be seen in public places again as long as you are a student of this school. Is that clear? ”

There was no need to write to Chereen’s parents informing them of this dictum. It was obeyed to the letter. Miss Cockburn was not finished.

“Goolbai. Stand.” I did not quake since I felt I was protected by the fact that Miss Cockburn could hardly attack my mother, and a Principal too, as a matter of professional courtesy.. But she was crafty,
“I am  surprised – no, shocked that a wise and sensible person such as your mother would expose you to such late nights…..such revelry  so  late at night.” (The concert  finished at 10 pm..) “I am disappointed beyond measure.” Her stare would have annihilated a saint. The message was received by my mother without question and certainly not challenged by her.

And to the third miscreant, Miss Cockburn had this to say.  Indrani had actually worn a sari to the event. “Your chol,i my dear, would have given the devil himself pneumonia. Such exposure is not the behaviour one expects from a girl  of this school.” Indrani was unsettled for the rest of the week. Her choli blouse retired permanently from her cupboard,

Would such dictates be possible today? They would not. Indeed, does a Principal have the right to make them? How far can a school insist on rules governing social interaction, clothes or friendships beyond the school’s gates? The Rights of the Parent versus the Rights of the School is a vexatious question and one which has never been properly solved.

As a matter of fact, even rules INSIDE school are now in doubt. For instance, is the wearing of the Muslim burka, or the growing of beards, acceptable?  Sometimes parents insist are ordained by their religion.

All this is highly debatable. As a former Principal  (and speaking for myself), I wish we could go back to the days when Principals were never argued with. Of course, I am dreaming.