“You’re not raising a child, you’re manufacturing a future problem and the society will send you the bill.”
Why is teaching today becoming a paradox? It is a struggle to guide, yet to fear; to correct, yet to be questioned.
The recent incident at a school in Kampala, where a parent reportedly harassed a teacher in front of learners, is not just an isolated case. The parent called the teacher a boy, forced him to apologize to a student, and belittled him after he disciplined a girl for loitering during class time. This reflects a growing tension between the home and the school — a silent battle over authority, responsibility, and values.
As teachers, we stand in loco parentis — entrusted with the responsibility to shape not only academic excellence but also discipline and character. Yet, when the act of guiding a learner is met with hostility, one wonders what has become of the teaching profession.
Discipline is not punishment for the sake of control; it is a tool for direction. When a learner skips class, it is a future moment neglected. A teacher’s intervention is an act of care, not oppression.
Today, many teachers walk on eggshells, cautious not to offend and hesitant to act. This creates a dangerous gap where learners navigate without boundaries, and teachers retreat from their moral duty.
This is not about choosing sides. It is about restoring partnership. When respect for educators diminishes, the classroom loses its authority, and society begins to lose its direction. We must ask ourselves if we are protecting our children or protecting them from the structures meant to prepare them for life.
Bad adults are not an accident. They are a project. No one wakes up at 30 years old and suddenly becomes rude, entitled, or corrupt. That software was installed early.
Bad manners are raised, fed and protected. Some parents are allergic to correcting children, claiming they are letting the children express themselves. But what are they expressing themselves into? Often, they become a menace.
When a child talks back to adults, throws tantrums, or disrespects teachers, some parents call it being smart. Twenty years later, that child is an adult who cannot keep a job or take correction. They are always the victim, and they blame society. In reality, the parent skipped their assignment.
Discipline is not abuse. Correction is not hatred. Boundaries are not trauma. Character is built when it is uncomfortable and when actions have consequences. We are raising children who have never been told to sit down, apologize, or face the consequences. We release them into the world and expect miracles.
Schools, the internet and churches do not raise children. Parents do. If you refuse to correct your child, society will do it for you. Society has no patience and no mercy. Prisons are full of people who were never corrected early, and homes are full of emotionally immature adults.
Raise children with manners, respect and accountability. Otherwise, you are manufacturing a future problem, and society will eventually send you the bill.
The writer, Mudi Kangave is a National chairperson, Private Teachers Platform Uganda.
The author is a teacher, teacher trainer and researcher. Reach him at +256 757525254.
Email: mudikangave@gmail.com
