Behavioural modification in students
Raising serious concern about instances of corporal punishment in schools despite an absolute ban on it, the Directorate of Education (DoE) has reportedly issued a circular ordering all educational educations to adapt and enforce zero tolerance policy towards corporal punishment.
This circular has been issued after two teachers were arrested for allegedly beating up a minor student for tearing pages from a book. Section 17 (1) of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 expressly bans subjecting a child to mental harassment or physical punishment.
Schools need to adopt positive punishment as a form of behaviour modification in students. They can be assigned tasks which will keep them occupied like cleaning the blackboard, collecting worksheets or books from students in the class and making the student a class leader to keep a watch on students when the teacher is not present.
Keeping the student back during the recess gives them time to reflect on their actions, and consider why it wasn’t worth doing in the first place. Impositions by writing a line several times and extra homework will keep them busy at home and away from their favourite TV shows and the mobile.
Teachers need to take cautious decisions when choosing appropriate punishments. Wisdom and experience is crucial in selecting the most appropriate and effective strategies to implement. Every class and every student is unique.
A teacher is the best person to know each student and the situation. Consistency is the most important factor when managing students.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Citizens’ involvement makes all the difference
This in is reference to the report ‘Of the people, for the people, by the people’ published in the
O Heraldo edition dated September 24, 2024. It is encouraging to see citizens waking up to reality, coming out on the streets in protest, standing up against policies, ill-conceived mega infrastructure projects, etc.
Kudos to O Heraldo for the bold exposure in the media by forcing the authorities to act and listen to citizens concerns. The Press is the ‘fourth pillar of democracy’ and your newspaper is living up to it.
That is what democracy is all about. As the title of the news report rightly states, “OF THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE” and it is citizens’ involvement which makes all the difference.
More power to the people. Those intending to abandon and flee their homeland to greener pastures in the West should come down to reality. Can we make the grass greener on this side of the fence?
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
Support NGOs
Goa is a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and community spirit. Yet, today, our beloved State faces unprecedented environmental challenges.
From unregulated development to deforestation and the degradation of our coasts, the future of Goa’s ecological balance hangs in the balance.
In these testing times, NGOs have been on the front lines, fighting tirelessly to protect our environment and safeguard Goa’s future. However, these organisations face overwhelming opposition from powerful lobbies and a lack of unified public support.
It is crucial that we, the people of Goa, recognise that the fight to preserve our land and heritage is not just the responsibility of a few dedicated groups. This is a collective cause that requires the united support of every Goan. We must stand together, set aside differences, and provide these NGOs with the moral, social, and political backing they need to succeed.
The preservation of Goa is not just for us, but for future generations. Let us act now, united in purpose, to protect the very soul of our State. United we stand, divided we fall.
Gabriel (GR) Crasto, Navelim
A sustained fight against mega projects
Last Sunday, September 22, I was in huge gratitude, respect and appreciation to the various activists; whilst attending the Sancoale candlelight march and subsequent meeting at the controversial Bhutani infra site.
Whilst not taking any names, lest I should mistakenly miss some, the dedication that I know some activists have to the cause of preserving Goa for posterity was really inspiring! Some have left their lucrative careers, some are making huge personal sacrifices by taking time from their families/businesses, some have given up on great opportunities abroad, some have police cases against them, some are putting themselves on the line versus an extremely corrupt and vindictive ruling administration (overseen by corrupt ministers!) and so on!
The rate at which the Goa government is expediting the sale/conversion/destruction of Goa to maximise their personal/party wealth coffers has reached crisis levels for Goa, its environment and identity.
The ruling politicians have now become shameless in their open greed for money. In the last Goa Assembly session, the government was clearly exposed by the Opposition on various cases of corruption including unbelievable huge amounts of land scams. Even various media channels/whistleblowers/activists/NGOs have completely exposed a highly corrupt/destructive government.
It appears that whatever National Real Estate/Entities have close links to BJP top central ministers are being given a free pass to do as they wish by the Pramod Sawant-led government, including destruction of our hills, forests, thousands of trees, water bodies, fields, mangroves, etc.
People of Goa must stand up and intensify their opposition to these ‘anti-Goans’ in power. We need to support these activists as much as possible; not only for them, but more so, for the generations to come.
Goa is too small. May the Sancoale protest be the start of a sustained fight to rid Goa of this mega project menace and huge land grabs.
Arwin Mesquita, Colva
New hope for Lanka
During the March-November 2022 Sri Lankan mass protests against the country’s nose-diving economy and its leaders’ short-sighted policies, not many thought the tiny island country would be back on its feet.
Subsequent to the stepping down of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, there was some revival of sorts, but Sri Lanka’s acute desire for a leadership change was so conspicuous.
Against this backdrop, 55-year-old Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s presidential election victory augurs well for the country because he is a product of ‘vote for change’.
Dissanayake, with a history of student leader and rebel in him, has rode to power on pro-poor and anti-corrupt planks.
He cannot afford to let down the common Sri Lankan man, who has pitch forked him to power with a big margin by delegating heavy weights Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe to the second and third position respectively.
The new president should be guided by his humble background; the poor and downtrodden should be his top priorities. It goes without saying that the crippled Sri Lankan economy needs a huge resurrection plan to bring it around.
Dissanayake cannot afford to ignore past stalwarts of the country, and there is nothing wrong in seeking their wise counsel for the betterment of the country’s fortunes. New Delhi is hoping the new President’s perceived ‘pro-China’ leaning will not affect its bilateral relationship with Colombo.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola