Job Discussion Forums

[AjarnErnes]

I ran across and this on the net and thought I'd post it for comments. I've thought about working in Saudi Arabia but I do have some concerns.


Violence in Saudi Arabia schools on the rise
From Habib Shaikh (Our correspondent)

1 June 2007

JEDDAH � Violence in schools is a growing problem in Saudi Arabia and news about pupils attacking teachers feature prominently in the local media.

An English teacher was recently filmed and photographed being beaten black and blue until he fell unconscious after refusing to increase his pupils� examination marks.
Another schoolteacher had a gun put to his head and was forced to helplessly watch his car being torched after reporting two of his pupils joyriding outside the school where he teaches.
Teachers in the kingdom are horrified by what is happening and call on the authorities to provide them with protection.
A recent study conducted by two students under the supervision of Khadija Kaj Itani, an assistant professor at Effat College, showed that aggressive behaviour is present at both intermediate and secondary schools, regardless of whether the schools are government-run, private or international.
The survey also showed that international schools tend to be the most violent, followed by government schools and then private schools. Victims include fellow pupils, schoolteachers, administration personnel, security guards and tea boys.
The study, which was conducted in Jeddah, added that in smaller towns and villages, violence tends to stem from tribal differences. Itani expressed concern at the findings and said that if the material taught at schools is beyond the grasp of pupils then this can cause them to react violently.
�Pupils in this day and age are strong but unwise. They can react violently especially when their parents play a minimal role in their lives,� he said.
Itani added that children copy their parents. �If parents stop yelling then children will also. The parenting style must teach children how to behave well with other people and how to become acceptable members of society. Teachers should also become more understanding of opposing views and open channels of communication with them,� she said.
According to her, low self-esteem and jealousy are also contributing factors. �The type of media that children, especially teenagers, are exposed to affects their behaviour. From an early age, children are exposed to a lot of violence,� she said and added that this type of exposure messes up children�s minds and emotions.
Itani said that schoolchildren have too much time on their hands. �We can solve this problem by more cooperation between home and school. It is important to teach children from an early age that their behaviour shouldn�t violate the rights of others. They need to be told that they shouldn�t damage the property of others and harm other people,� she added.
Muhammad Al Mangari, manager of student activity at the Education Department in Jeddah, said that high school pupils are more aggressive than primary and intermediate pupils.
�They organise themselves into gangs. These gangs tend to share their thoughts and feelings and are proud of their behaviour,� he said, and added that pupils are known to be vocally abusive and use knives, brass knuckles and pepper sprays in fights.
�It is hard for staff to check whether students are carrying weapons into schools. I think the problem of violence in schools may increase unless the authorities take an interest in the issue and set up a strict penal system,� he said.
Muhammad Rajab, a 16-year-old student from a private high school in Jeddah, said most pupils in his school are extremely spoiled coming from privileged backgrounds. �They generally don�t listen to teachers because of this. They don�t like being told what to do,� he said, and added, �I remember a pupil who beat up a teacher because he told him not to cheat in exams.�
Rajab said that teachers need to also change their style and behave professionally. �Our supervisors would sometimes take off their Igals (the black ring worn by Saudi men over their headscarves) and beat pupils who don�t go to class,� he added.
Another high school pupil felt that the problem of violence in schools will remain as long as teachers continue to beat kids. �To save face and to prove that they are stronger, pupils naturally react aggressively. What goes around comes around,� he added.

Ajarn Ernest

[007]

The violence in Saudi schools is nothing compared to US/UK/Canada schools.
At least in Saudi schools, pupils do not kill their teachers or fellow pupils using gangs and knives!

[Cleopatra]

[AjarnErnes]

Do you know of anyone who has experienced violence directed at them from students?

I know that America is a terrible, horrific, uber-violent place ( Fucking American! ); That's not the point of this thread. I'm interested in hearing about anyone's experiences with the issue.

Ajarn Ernest

PS: I was born and raised in California

[scot47]

Any problems are confined to state intermediate and secondary schools.
Foreigners coming to teach here will not face this sort of problem in the institutions they work in.

[trapezius]

^ Exactly.

Don't misunderstand the situation. What that newspaper article describes is found in some public schools. Private schools, whether Saudi or international, do not have that problem at all.

So Ajarn, your concerns are misplaced.

Boredom. Frustration. Mind-numbingness of surroundings.

Those will kill you well before violence could ever, in this country.

[tudodude]

hit them back i say

[Stephen Jones]

[Griff-James]

Are there significant differences in the behaviour of students between different institutions?

What's TINS like?

[Griff-James]

Stephen - Chi'n siarad Cymraig?

[Stephen Jones]

Little Welsh I'm afraid.