SCHOOL DISCIPLINE IN PHILIPPINE SCHOOLS: A PICTURE OF STIFFNESS IN IMPLEMENTATION

PETER PHILIP M. PEREZ

MA in Education Major in Administration and Supervision
Divine Word College of San Jose



I. INTRODUCTION:
The authority to maintain school discipline is well stipulated in D.O. No. 92, s, 1992
pages 22-23 which states that, Every school shall maintain discipline inside the school campus
as well as outside the school premises when students are engaged in activities authorized by the
school. Here, the Department of Education has given the clause of authority to the school
personnel of schools; thus, it means that the teachers and administrators thereof, have
necessary powers to inflict disciplinary procedures on errant students.
However, as furthered by the said order, school officials and teachers shall have the
right to impose appropriate and reasonable disciplinary measures in case of minor offenses and
infractions of good discipline. However, no cruel or physically harmful punishment shall be
imposed or applied against any pupil or student. Here, we can see that there are also
limitations on the ways of disciplining the said students, that; the teachers and administrators
have to be cautious on means they are going to give the disciplinary measures. The said
prohibitions on the teachers procedure are well stipulated in DECS 2000 which states,
The use of corporal punishment by teachers (slapping, jerking or pushing
pupils/students about) imposing manual work or degrading task as penalty, meting out
cruel and unusual punishments of any nature, holding up a pupil/student to
unnecessary ridicule, the use of epithets and expressions tending to destroy the
pupil/students self-respect and the permanent confiscation of the personal property of
pupils/students are forbidden (p. 90)
II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM:
School Discipline nowadays are becoming worst, this is due to numerous factors which
can be found in the environment, mass media, family among others. However, there are
presences of educational laws which prohibits necessary countering of such in the school; for
instance, DECS Manual2000 stipulates major infractions or offenses:
Offenses punishable by suspension and expulsion depending on the seriousness of the
offense:
Gross misconduct
Cheating and stealing
Assaulting a teacher or any school authority or his agents or students
Smoking inside the school premises
Vandalism, writing on or destroying school property like chairs, tables books,
laboratory equipment and others
Gambling of any sort
Drinking intoxicants and liquor
Carrying and concealing deadly weapons
Extortion or asking money from others
Fighting or causing injury to others
Hazing of any form or manner whether inside or outside the campus
Immorality/sexual harassment
Instigating, leading or participating in concerted activities leading to stoppage of
classes.
Preventing, threatening students or faculty members or school authorities.
Here, we can see that the offenses are of intense gravity. However, punishments such as
expulsion or suspension are of stiff possibility to be inflicted on the said students for reasons of
legality and technicality further stated in the manual:
For the first and other offenses which are not very serious in nature, a suspension from
school not to exceed three days may be authorized by the principal without the prior
approval of the Division superintendent. However, parents must be informed by the
teacher or the school principal of any misconduct on the part of their children for which
disciplinary action is necessary.
For persistent offender or guilty of a serious offense, a suspension, a suspension
for not more than one year may be imposed subject to the approval of the school
division superintendent.
Suspension for a school year or more, or expulsion from the school can be
ordered only by the secretary.
In cases of suspension, a written promise of future exemplary conduct signed by
the pupil/student and countersigned by his parents or guardian shall be required as a
condition for readmission and must be required in the case of suspension for more than
three years.
We can notice in the foregoing statements that, there seems to be a very stiff procedure which
may lead to lesser and lesser possibility of litigating errant students.
III. OBJECTIVES:
To lessen the possibility of occurrence discipline problems in schools

IV. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION:

1. Advocate verbally the corporal punishment measures in school.

Being vocal as regards to the benefits which can be derived on the use of
corporal punishments in schools by citing instances and literatures may help enlighten
the public of the pertinence of discipline. However, this can be a hard endeavor knowing
that there are well established institutions around the world which counters the said.

2. Devise a School-based Action Plan on Student Discipline.

This action plan must be based on the demographic analysis that must be
conducted by the school on a prior basis.

V. RECOMMENDATION:

All the above mentioned alternative causes of action has bearing on the topic under
consideration. However, alternative course of action no. 1 may take time and hard toiling
efforts.

VI. REFERENCES:

DECS Order. No. 92, s, 1992. The authority to maintain School Discipline, pages 22-23
DECS Service Manual2000.