I have mostly pleasant memories of attending school in Bauchi. One exception to this is Discipline Master.
Did anyone else have this at their primary/secondary schools? For those of you who don't know, the discipline master is a staff member whose main responsibilities include "disciplining" i.e. flogging, canning, or using his 'koboko' as we called it.
Scenario: A teacher in class
Teacher: If you didn't do your homework, come to the front of the class
7 students come out
Teacher: Kneel down and raise your hands up, while I go and get the discipline master
Teacher goes out, gets the discipline master. Discipline master walks in, koboko in hand.
Discipline Master: Are these the students? Come here.
He flogs each of them on the butt and sometimes back with his koboko. When he's done, he leaves.
Thinking about it, I can't imagine having that as a job. Basically, all this guy did was make kids cry. That's kinda cruel. Thankfully, I was quite a good student and never had to feel his wrath.
In case you couldn't tell, the saying "spare the rod and spoil the child" was fully implemented in school. I remember once in primary 2 I believe, being beating so bad I had bruises. I don't remember what exactly happened, but I believe it was one of those instances where the whole class had to be beaten because one person was disrespectful so the whole class had to suffer (whaat?!!). But really, things like that happened and these were my only interactions with the discipline master.
When my lawyer dad got home later that night, he was so mad, he went to my school the next morning to see the principal and threatened to sue the school. I wasn't beaten in school again till primary 5 :)
Did you have a discipline master in school? Share your stories.
Reminiscing Mondays is a weekly post by Pearlle Magazine's contributors, sharing their memories about life in Nigeria.
Did anyone else have this at their primary/secondary schools? For those of you who don't know, the discipline master is a staff member whose main responsibilities include "disciplining" i.e. flogging, canning, or using his 'koboko' as we called it.
Scenario: A teacher in class
Teacher: If you didn't do your homework, come to the front of the class
7 students come out
Teacher: Kneel down and raise your hands up, while I go and get the discipline master
Teacher goes out, gets the discipline master. Discipline master walks in, koboko in hand.
Discipline Master: Are these the students? Come here.
He flogs each of them on the butt and sometimes back with his koboko. When he's done, he leaves.
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| In case you were wondering what 'koboko' looked like Image source |
In case you couldn't tell, the saying "spare the rod and spoil the child" was fully implemented in school. I remember once in primary 2 I believe, being beating so bad I had bruises. I don't remember what exactly happened, but I believe it was one of those instances where the whole class had to be beaten because one person was disrespectful so the whole class had to suffer (whaat?!!). But really, things like that happened and these were my only interactions with the discipline master.
When my lawyer dad got home later that night, he was so mad, he went to my school the next morning to see the principal and threatened to sue the school. I wasn't beaten in school again till primary 5 :)
Did you have a discipline master in school? Share your stories.
Reminiscing Mondays is a weekly post by Pearlle Magazine's contributors, sharing their memories about life in Nigeria.
