The role of teachers in preventing thuggery in schools and communities in the 21st century

The role of teachers in preventing thuggery in schools and communities in the 21st century

OLUBunmi ODEWUMI

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Introduction

Education is the most powerful weapon for changing the world, but the teacher is the hand that holds that weapon. In Nigeria today, the rise of thuggery in schools and communities is alarming. From secondary schools where students form bullying gangs, extort money from juniors, destroy school property and engage in cultism, to communities where youths are used as political thugs, street fighters and land grabbers, the problem is one. This menace threatens learning, security and development. While parents, government and security agencies all have roles, the teacher remains the most strategic actor in prevention. A thug is not born in a day; he is gradually formed, and the teacher has the earliest opportunity to stop that formation.

Understanding thuggery in the school context

Thuggery in school does not start with guns. It starts with lateness to school without remorse, disrespect to teachers, bullying of weaker students, joining secret groups for protection, and using abusive language. If a teacher ignores these early signs, the child grows to become a terror in the community. Therefore, prevention is better and cheaper than cure.

Key roles of the teacher

The teacher as a moral model:

Students do not do what teachers say; they do what teachers do. A teacher who is disciplined, honest, punctual, decently dressed, and who avoids alcohol, smoking, and corrupt practices during examination, is already teaching anti-thuggery. In this 21st century, students are exposed to many negative models on social media. The teacher must be the positive counter-model in speech and conduct.

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Early detection and guidance:

The classroom teacher is the closest adult to the learner after the parent. Through daily interaction, roll calls, class work and playground supervision, a teacher can identify an aggressive child, a withdrawn child, a child who suddenly has expensive items, or a group that always moves together suspiciously. Once identified, the 21st-century teacher does not label or disgrace them, but invites them for private counselling, listens to their frustrations, and guides them to the school counsellor.

Value re-orientation through teaching:

Teaching should go beyond notes and exams. Every subject is an opportunity to teach values. The English teacher can use comprehension passages on peace. The History teacher can teach about heroes who achieved greatness without violence. Civic Education and Social Studies teachers have a direct mandate to teach the consequences of thuggery – death, imprisonment, injury, and disgrace to family – and the benefits of peace, tolerance, and hard work.

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Keeping students productively engaged:

An idle student is a ready tool for thuggery. Modern teachers must adopt student-centered methods that keep all learners busy. Inter-school sports, literary and debating societies, drama clubs, Boys’ Scout, Girls’ Guide, Red Cross, Press Club, and entrepreneurship skills like farming, computer training and crafts, reduce idle time and give students a sense of belonging and leadership without violence.

Enforcing discipline without brutality:

The old method of excessive flogging breeds anger and revenge, which are ingredients of thuggery. The modern teacher uses positive discipline – verbal correction, counselling, restitution (making the offender repair what he destroyed), community service within the school, detention with classwork, and involvement of parents. This method reforms rather than deforms.

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Bridging school and community:

Thuggery in the community feeds thuggery in the school and vice versa. Teachers must actively collaborate with parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and security agencies. Organizing open days, PTA meetings, community clean-up exercises, and inviting resource persons like the Police, NDLEA, and reformed youths to speak to students helps build a united front against thugs.

Monitoring digital recruitment:

In this century, many thugs are recruited and initiated through WhatsApp groups, Facebook, and TikTok. Teachers must be digitally literate to educate students on cyber-ethics, dangers of inciting videos, and how to report online threats.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the teacher’s chalk is more powerful than the thug’s baton. If the teacher fails to prevent thuggery at the primary and secondary school level, the society will have to confront armed thuggery later at a greater cost. Therefore, government must also support teachers with training, motivation and security.

A peaceful community begins with a peaceful classroom, and a peaceful classroom begins with a committed, vigilant and morally upright teacher. Let us all support our teachers to win this war.

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