Parents should instill discipline in children at home

Mrs Mawuena Trebah, a Business Strategist, on Saturday tasked parents to complement the efforts of teachers to inculcate discipline into their children to achieve ultimate success.

“If students will have a good sense of responsibility and self discipline, a greater portion will depend heavily on the kind of training parents give to their children at home” she said.

Mrs Trebah said this at the 62nd Speech and Prize Giving Day of Saint Mary’s Senior High School in Accra.

Dubbed, “Discipline, a shared responsibility for achieving total success”, the event highlighted activities of the School in previous years as well as a forum to award staff and students who have distinguish themselves in various spheres of the academic discipline.

“The kinds of training we give our children at home will to a large extent determine and shape their successes in life. If we teach the young ones to live responsible lives, even when we are not with them, as they are in school now, they will most likely lead responsible lives”, she said.

She reiterated the need for parents to train their children to uphold good values that encourage the development of a sense of responsibility and self-control, stating that the children should be supported to exercise their minds and will to help discern between competing options and make the right choices.

“Sometimes as part of the school training and instilling discipline in students, teachers and school authorities may need to correct our children. I believe we as parents should support them in meeting this aspect of moulding the children for their own good. During holidays when they are with us, let us take the opportunity to reinforce responsible behaviour and help them to make ethically sound choices”, she added.

Mrs Trebah urged the students to be self-discipline as it would make it easier for them to abide by the rules and regulations of the School.

“ Self discipline can help you throughout life; you can go everywhere, live and work anywhere; because your life is already ordered, you don’t need a third party to regulate your life for you”, she stated.

According to her, students should try to develop self-confidence, persistence and leadership abilities as well as build an attitude of social responsibility and an understanding of cultural and intellectual differences.

Madam, Doris Bramson, Headmistress, Saint Mary’s Senior High School, said the school has chalked many successes, the latest which was the hundred per cent recorded in the 2011 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations.

She noted that the School was constrained by infrastructure and as a result first year students are using Science Laboratory and Home Science Department as dormitories which always affected students’ practical lessons.

According to her, students had to contend with taking notes and doing other exercises on make-shift structures with their notebooks on their laps because of inadequate furniture.

The headmistress appealed to organizations and individuals to come to the aid of the school to permanently eliminate the poor drainage system around the area which posed a threat to students’ lives especially during floods.

The School was establishes 62 years ago with 10 students and 2 staff, currently now has a population of 1,027 students, comprising 783 boarding and 244 day students.