Ill-Discipline Is Destructive: A Hand Book on Social Policy, Social Care, Parenting, & Discipline:

By Yinka A. Amuda

This book is recommended for lecturers & students of social policy & social care; social workers; head teachers & school teachers; parents & pupils; foster carers, healthcare workers, care providers, service users and the policy makers.

This handbook broadly and concisely covers several aspects of abuse, neglect and ill-discipline in various quarters. It looks into a lack of compassion for the elderly, the physically challenged and the infirm; as well as insufficient care and attention for the carers themselves in social care institutions. It also addresses indiscipline in schools and why strict discipline must be enforced in the educational sector.

Discipline within the areas of parenting and foster care is addressed, along with some specific examples of ill-disciplined behaviour among foster children and school children. The consequences of over-pampering are looked at, together with the accountability of social workers and parents. Some recommendations are outlined for curbing ill-discipline in these sectors and in society at large.

Interviews with people from various places are included, and these briefly examine different aspects of discipline within selected countries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Dec 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496999009

Yinka A. Amuda

Yinka is a retired diplomat with 20 years of experience, voluntarily retired as a Minister Counsellor. Yinka undertook her formal education in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. She taught English as a lecturer in various colleges (containing both local and international students) for several years following her voluntary retirement. Yinka is also an author of several books, in the areas of ‘education’ and ‘fact & fiction’. She lives in the United Kingdom; and has mixed with lots of people from different “backgrounds” and cultures.

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© 2014, 2015 Yinka A. Amuda. All rights reserved.

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Published by AuthorHouse    01/14/2015

ISBN: 978-1-4969-9899-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-9900-9 (e)

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Contents

Chapters

1    1a) Ill-discipline is Destructive

2    Ill-Discipline In Social Care

3    Curbing Indiscipline – Temporary Recommendations

4    The Child

5    PARENTING and DISCIPLINE

6    Parent – Indiscipline – substance misuse – child assessment

7    Unrestrained bad behaviour – Lack of discipline

8    Fostering

9    Communicating with children – inculcating good discipline

10    Enforcing proper discipline in schools

11    Children in care – Accepting discipline

12    The Assessment process – Assessing a prospective foster carer

13    Information required when considering foster placement

14    Parents, carers - be safe in caring

15    Genuine compassion – A requirement for care and fostering

16    When matching is faulty

17    A quick survey – Application of discipline in selected countries

18    Conclusion and Recommendations

CHAPTER 1

1a) Ill-discipline is Destructive

Introduction

Human imperfection has brought untold misery most especially upon the recent generation of mankind. It is probably a grave excuse to blame the earliest humans for the errors which are constantly committed by the latest generation of living beings. In various quarters, some may assume that, this imperfection, though inherited, is purely inherent in man and can be attributed to the ignorance of our forefathers or the mistakes which are deeply ingrained in human genes.

In as much as the inherited features may constitute a logical explanation, the genetic factors in effect, cannot permanently dictate or justify the more or less intentional behaviours of generations of mankind for thousands of years. The paradigm of choice is a generous term which is freely enjoyed by every human being from the earliest stage as a newborn, right up to adulthood and well into its weakling or decrepit old age so to say.

Although the old age perception may be linked to weakness in its worn out stage, it is widely acknowledged that as from seventy years of age, human life or health is ‘wrought with many pains’ in the biblical sense. History has proved that the much older generation of about 6,000 years was a bit closer to perfection when indeed many then lived for decades. The weakness of brain cells, the old age sickness, with all the ailments attached could contribute to the reason why at old age, a man’s choice is limited in scope.

Man being in his right frame of mind could still be able to decide and distinguish between what is right and what is wrong. Evidently, if man wants to conform to a standard of right or correct behaviour, he is inclined to do the opposite due to the nature of his innate imperfection. The good point is that, the moral inclination of knowing the good from bad, allows humans to adhere to a disciplined mind and to act in accordance with what he chooses to be the right behaviour.

As a result, the disciplined man deviates from the worldly filth, unaccepted norm which invariably constitutes indiscipline as he is determined to pursue the honourable goal or stick to the right principle. In a sense, the corruptible mind riots with the mechanisms of ill-discipline which is inevitably and unarguably destructive.

This material will examine factors that contribute to ‘discipline’ and ‘ill-discipline’ in many areas of our lives. It will explore how people in various parts of the world and in diverse groups, languages and multi-cultural settings try hard to curb these factors that engender ill-discipline and strive to inculcate the essential, high morals in their children and their people.

It will look into different spheres of life where some ‘uncontrolled behaviours’ that are dictated by ‘choice’ can result in ‘gross indiscipline’ with its accompanied grave consequences.

Finally, in essence, the material will look into why humans should follow a disciplined path; and how those who do can characteristically maintain a good standing in the society, therefore becoming the light that shines in all nations. Even though the world hates the truth, no culture is immune to exhibiting high moral standard.

1b)

A brief overview of the material

i) Care of the elderly

Spirituality: In a recent discussion with some carers and families of clients, some elderly clients in a number of care homes are really interested in maintaining their spirituality despite their ailing condition. In most cases, their plight is often ignored and neglected. This is mostly because some operators or the care providers themselves are not interested in any form of worship or devotion whatsoever. Therefore they inadvertently pay no rapt attention to their clients who have shown some kind of interest in following a faithful course or those who may be missing their religious observances.

In some instances where clients have asked questions about their beliefs, carers are often prevented or banned from answering these questions or engaging in such talks with the clients. Some carers who abhor such treatment as deprivation have chosen to resign from their cherished secular work while some others who have voiced out their opinion have actually been removed from their duty post.

The situation of spirituality and devotion as stated above begs the question; ‘Why have values such as commitment, compassion and empathy towards the vulnerable and indefensible clients eluded the care providers?’

Looking further into the care givers’ earnings, the actual carers who carry out the job of really looking after the elderly receive more or less a pittance for their invaluable contribution toward the care of their clients, while the exorbitant amount of the juicy bit is outrageously shared among the operators, the people at the top of the hierarchy. It calls for discipline and wisdom to give honour to whom honour is due; to share part of the juicy income with those who actually do the odd jobs, for without the carers, there would be no clients in the first instance.

It is an aspect of indiscipline on the part of the elderly, invalid and disabled who discriminate against the carers, not giving some of them the proper chance to learn on the job and actually get used to the job. This category of the elderly easily get irritated at the site of some carers they do not even know, or mere feeling the presence of those carers of whom they have already formed an opinion.

Constant derogatory remarks, instant condemnation, abusive language and swearing emanating from these clients and being showered on the carers can be extremely discouraging to the latter, resulting in provocation. When carers who are busy fixing the pad or dippers and in the process of washing the elderly begin to hear, Oh gosh; What the hell! and other swear words enough to put them off, they become disillusioned.

The main care providers have the responsibility of instructing or advising the clients on the right manner of behaviour towards the carers too, just as the carers are also instructed vice versa. The right manner of communication which constitutes the right behavioural attitude should reflect in both categories. Exercising patience can go a long way in the maintenance of peace and discipline between the care providers, the indefensible carers and the clients.

Good treatment of the carers will promote trust and willingness to carry out their duties with genuine motives. If a carer is motivated to work hard, his or her capability shines in the prevailing atmosphere. When a person is commended for good performance, with a correspondent remuneration, his spirit soars.

Proper management requires adequate supervision to yield top performance. In such a case, expired food would likely not be given to the elderly. The elderly who normally enjoys and can afford some kind of refreshment would likely not be deprived of her favourite food, snack, or drink when he or she can afford the luxury. Pads or dippers will be changed at the right time, the carer will not ignore the urine on the bed when straightening the beddings or when making the bed for the infirm; proper hygiene will be adhered to; and the golden rule of ‘Treat others as you would like to be treated’ is bound to be implemented.

Giving the new carers a chance also involves trust. If the relatives of the infirm or the elderly only trust the old carers, but condemn the new ones, they would not be preparing an environment conducive towards diligent and compassionate care. If the old carers side with the relatives of the client and work against their new colleagues, they make matters worse, jeopardising the team spirit which naturally should ensue through mutual understanding and corresponding discipline.

Some of the executives, the members of staff, supervisors have their favourites among the employees. They provide the favourites with adequate training to ensure their security and success within the company. Some employees are prevented from proceeding unto higher training. These ones are allowed to make do with casual work; or are reserved for emergency work only. If some supervisors or those in the junior managerial posts feel threatened about their positions, those who are restricted or confined to the casual work and the workers who are prevented from doing the necessary training will not be able to move up the ladder in a sense.

Lack of discipline in an organisation could make those in the position of authority withhold training from those who want to make a change and contribute positively to the company’s progress. This behaviour usually occurs when those who are in the high position feel threatened about losing their posts; thinking they might be entering into competition with the new comers, or that their jobs might be at stake. Jealousy could be an issue sometimes.

Engaging in a covert rivalry will often prevent them from appointing the right person with the right ideas and honest motives to occupy the decision making