4-16-10
To the Editor:
The term is “in loco parentis,” meaning instead or in place of the parent. The concept has been handed down as English common law and has secured a place in our schools since colonial times. Over time the courts have interpreted, modified and other wise tweaked the idea, usually in respect to student’s rights. But the basic concept survives. The school assumes the legal and moral responsibilities of the parent.
Responsibilities that include not only a level of control and discipline, but also the protection of the student within the school environment. This imperative also applies to the classroom teacher who is in the unique position of being able to observe their students on a daily basis.
The first part of teaching is obviously the transferring of subject matter. The second part, without which effective instruction is all but impossible, is the teacher’s ability to monitor and manage the classroom dynamics occurring as the day goes on. It is here that the beginning of harassment and bullying can be seen and effectively intervened before it gets out of hand.
As a student – albeit a very long time ago – and more recently as a teacher, I have seen bullying escalate into a virtual art form. Spiteful, nasty, and hurtful remarks have become easy school room banter, aided and exemplified by movies and late night TV.
Like gun violence, bullying is a societal impoverishment which places even more importance on the concept of in loco parentis as practiced by a more courageous classroom teacher along with the support of an administration willing to do whatever is required to resolve the issue up to and including parental confrontation.
ROBERT O’CON
Cooperstown
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