Archives

'Light a small candle'

Another instance of sadistic violence in our school system, although disquieting in the extreme, serves only to re-emphasize the all-encompassing nature of the moral decadence which is upon us. Educational institutions, including universities and secondary schools, are adjuncts of the wider society and couldn't be expected to remain uninfected by the blights which lay hold of the latter. Accordingly, a violent society breeds unruly, criminally-inclined youngsters. This follows as inevitably as night follows day.

It has been suspected for sometime now that the perversions and abuses which are usually associated with our seats of higher learning are acquiring a stranglehold on some of our secondary schools too. The inhuman treatment meted out to a secondary school student in Kegalle by some of his peers, provides fresh evidence to substantiate this contention.

Our news report on this incident on Saturday said that the victim was brutally assaulted by his assailants, under the guise of "ragging", because he did not hand over to them a sum of money demanded of him. The fact that the victim was the son of a carpenter and therefore one who lived in extreme poverty, adds to the sense of outrage the incident triggers. The victim was, apparently, beaten by his colleagues until he fell senseless. He was rushed to hospital by some witnesses to the incident in a critical condition.

Considering the depths to which law and order has crumbled in this country, coupled with the alarming proportions to which moral decadence has grown, developments of this nature shouldn't come as a surprise, although we forthrightly condemn the inhuman, sadistic behaviour of the offending students. We call for the firm enforcement of the law and for the expeditious bringing to justice of the perpetrators of this species of brutal violence which shames our human identity.

Meanwhile, there is no getting away from the need to put into motion, without further delay, long-term solutions to the curse of violence which has tarnished our image as a peaceful people.

We have often spoken of the need for the firm enforcement of the law for the stemming of crime. We hope this will prove easier now, with the institution of the National Police Commission. The successful enforcement of the law or the bold enshrinement of the Rule of Law is predicated upon the effective discharge of duties by those who are mandated to carry them out.

Likewise, at school level, the maintenance and enhancement of student discipline depends crucially on the effectiveness of teachers and school administrators. If the latter fail in their duty and do not live up to the ethical standards expected of them, students couldn't be expected to be epitomes of good behaviour.

This seems to be a vital aspect of crumbling school discipline. In a day and age when teachers, for instance, parade the streets vociferously and combatively for the rectification of what are seen as their grievances, openly defying the law, could one expect their wards to be law-abiding?

Teaching, like the profession of Medicine, is a vocation and not yet another job. This is why much is expected of both practitioners of these professions. However, gone are the days when the sacredness of these professions was firmly upheld. Today, Mammon rules most of the world with self-interest emerging as perhaps the only yardstick of what is acceptable and allowable. It is difficult to see how societies which have declined to these levels of degeneration could sustain themselves.

However, fatalism at this juncture could prove self-defeating. We call on everyone in every sphere, whether he or she is considered a person of consequence or otherwise, to take stock of their situations and do everything within their means to make Sri Lanka a hallowed land. Lighting even a small candle is more ennobling than cursing the darkness.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager