The function, duties, rights and responsibility of teachers when maintaining learner

2.13.1 The Function of Teachers when Managing Discipline in Schools

Teachers have various crucial functions to play in managing and maintaining order and discipline in schools. They must play the following roles (Lilemba, 2015).

• Discussing classroom rules together with the learners during the first week of school opening;

• Acting more democratically during the compilation of school rules;

• Providing a positive, disciplined and a good example for learners. This means teachers should be well-organised; well-prepared for classes; have time for learners to solve their problems; come to school sober and well rested; communicate effectively and politely to everyone in the same way; get to know learners name as soon as possible; be supportive by praising good effort as well as good work; maintain and control classrooms; offer an atmosphere that is conducive to maximum learning; and, in general, be gate keepers who control the activities of learners. This is so because Namibia’s learner-centred approach allows for teachers to react to the learner’s individual needs;

• Not showing favouritism. It is imperative for teachers to treat everyone equally and fairly;

• Not sexually molesting learners. This is breaking the sacred oath all teachers should take to protect those in their care (Lilemba, 2015).

2.13.2 The Duties of the Teachers when Maintaining Learner Behaviour in Schools

Having looked at the roles of the teacher, it is now worth considering their duties in managing discipline in schools. Lilemba (2015) is of the view that teachers should be responsible in managing learner behaviour at the schools where they are teaching. It is the duty of the teachers to assist the principal in the process of planning, organising, developing and monitoring of matters relating to learner discipline at school. The following according to Mushaandja (2016) are regarded as the duties of teachers:

• The legal duty to provide learners with the culture of caring; • The duty of establishing clear classroom / school rules; • The duty to maintain accountability; and

• The duty to maintain learner behavioural problems lies with the teachers.

In this regard, the duty of maintaining learner behaviour in Namibian secondary schools is a very difficult task for teachers. Therefore, teachers are responsible for proper management of a positive instructional environment in their schools (Van As,

2016). In support of the views above, Antonio (2017) explains that teachers have the duty to provide excellent instruction to learners; manage classes; create a good and caring learning environment; and employ the right strategy for each individual learner. In this regard, teachers as classroom managers are accountable for all teaching and learning activities that take place in schools and everything associated with these activities (Rosen, 2016). In education, accountability thus amounts to being required to give an account of events, decisions or actions taken in a school to those who may have a legitimate right to know (Belle, 2016) and accountability is the key to the proper running of the school systems and procedures. The above views are supported by Naicker (2014) who affirms that teachers are accountable for successful instruction and education in the school context. It is explained by Koki (2015) that, because teachers should be responsible for the achievement of learners and the results of all instructional actions, they must have a solid understanding of how to solve problematic situations. This view is further maintained by Meier (2015) that teachers have a duty to assist other teachers in managing learners with serious behaviour problems. When a problem arises, teachers are advised to first determine the cause and reflect upon the contributing factors before attempting to correct it. By so doing, this will provide teachers with a better framework for the strategies they adopt. For instance, if a learner is misbehaving when seated with a certain learner in class, the possible answer is to rearrange the seating.

2.13.3 Teachers’ Rights and Responsibilities when Managing Learner Behaviour in Schools

Having looked at the roles and duties of teachers, we now look at the rights and responsibilities of the teachers. We expect teachers to respect and obey the laws governing school institutions. Teachers must always bear in mind that they are the role models for learners. This means that if they misbehave, learners will follow suit. According to Lilemba (2015), the following are regarded as the rights and responsibilities of teachers:

• The responsibility to correct both classroom and other school-related learner behaviour in a professional manner;

• The right to be accepted by both school officials and learners in an individual capacity. They should also accept others;

• The right to have their knowledge of individual learners taken into account in official school discipline, for which reason teachers should maintain a written, confidential, behavioural profile for learners; and

• The right and responsibility to consult with learners, parents or guardians regarding both academic and social matters.

2.14 THE TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES IN MANAGING LEARNERS’