indiscipline among youths by eguriase s. m. okaka

INDISCIPLINE AMONG YOUTHS

BY EGURIASE S. M. OKAKA Acts of indiscipline seem to have become normal phenomena in our everyday lives. For some people, an act of indiscipline is a sign of modernity, fashion or masculinity. Simply put, most stubborn and rebellious acts that we see today in our society are acts of indiscipline but majority of people see it as normal trends among youths because in their days there was nothing like that. If it is so said it means that not everyone understand the concept of indiscipline. Indiscipline among youths does not reflect only in their way of dressing but also in their attitude towards life and in ways of doing things. The dictionary defines indiscipline as lack of control and obedience and deviation from acceptable patterns of behavior. Though technology and modernity can be termed as the main determinants of development in a country, discipline also counts. It must be put into consideration that it only takes discipline to rise to height of civilization. Who could have thought that Egypt, in Africa, could be the first nation in the world to attain a level of civilization? Looking back at the history of Egypt, one can say empathetically that it takes disciplines to build massive pyramids that are now generating incomes for the country through tourism. The reason for acts of indiscipline among youths cannot be attributed solely to the individual but also to the environment or the society in which the individual is raised. Though from a tender age one is influenced by society and the environment, parental responsibility is the major influence in one’s life, given the fact that parents have the major responsibility of nurturing the child. This is so because to the child, the guardian or parents are the only people to be trusted. ‘Train a child in a way he should grow and when he is old, he will never depart from it,’ goes a verse from the Holy Scripture. Acts of discipline begin from our various homes. If a child is not taught how to show discipline, the possibility of the child living a life of indiscipline is very high. That child was not given discipline at home so he will be indiscipline outside or in the large society. ‘Charity begins at home.’ A child can only do what you train that child with.

It is very easy for a child to copy blindly, attitudes from parents or guardians, especially when those attitudes exceptionally go against the norms and values of the society. Though charity begins at home, the tendency for a child to stray from the path of disciplined life is faster in terms of pressure influence. Peer pressure, so far, has been a fast generator of bad habits. A well-behaved person would love to make it a point to adhere to all the rules and regulations of the community, but the peer group influence he or she may decide to go against them. This is the reason why children from good homes are easily influenced into cultism by their peers. Indiscipline among youths results in social evils. Youths learn drug abuse from their unruly street mates leading to robbery and other violent crimes. Drug abuse disorganizes the mind of the youths and emboldens them to commit crimes such rape and rebellion. Peer group influence also pushes some youths to join secret cults. Indiscipline is a general problem among youths it is only the wise one that can guild against it. The world is now a global village; youths are easily influenced by one culture to another and can copy the indiscipline in them. That is why we can notice different types of indiscipline in among us today. Parents still have a lot of work to do that is to bring their children up in a well-behaved manner before they go into the society. The governments should continue to promote anti-cultism groups in our schools to fight against cultism among youths who are students. Discipline pays and pays a lot but indiscipline leads to destruction! By Eguriase S. M. Okaka