Handling Holiday Misconduct – Progressive Discipline vs. Public Shaming
By Rosa Kemirembe
The recent indefinite suspension of at least ten Senior Four students from Mt St Henry's High School in Mukono has sparked a national conversation about how schools should handle student misconduct, particularly when it occurs off school premises during holidays.
The allegations are serious: drug use, sharing pornography, and organising house parties. However, it is crucial to remember that these remain allegations, and the students' side of the story has not been heard.
Where the School's Process Failed
Parents have rightly criticised the school's procedure. Their first communication was the suspension letter itself, leaving them blindsided and defensive. One parent lamented: "I wish the administration had contacted us before making a decision, instead of calling us to pick the children."
The school claims investigations were conducted, but parents argue students were "not given a fair opportunity to explain themselves." In any disciplinary process, the accused must be heard, a basic principle of natural justice. While a 2022 High Court ruling suggested prompt action may be required for serious matters like drugs, this does not override the general right to a fair hearing, especially for minors.
Most critically, the school appears to have failed in its legal duty to involve authorities. Under the Children (Amendment) Act 2016, teachers are mandatory reporters. The law explicitly states every child is entitled to protection from narcotics and hallucinogens. If a child is using illegal drugs, it is a violation of their rights requiring state intervention. There is no public record that the school reported this matter to the Police's Child and Family Protection Unit, a duty that is not optional but the law.
The handling of parents was also problematic. They were met individually rather than collectively, creating distrust. A structured group meeting would have allowed parents to hear concerns together, followed by individual sessions for each child's specific case.
Progressive Discipline: What Should Have Happened
To begin with, the school had a legal duty to report the alleged drug use to the Police's Child and Family Protection Unit. This is not optional; it is the law. Before issuing any suspension, the school should have contacted each parent individually to inform them of the allegations and invite them to a meeting, building partnership rather than adversarial relationships. A fair investigation should have been conducted, interviewing each student separately with a trusted adult present. Following that, a joint meeting with parents, students, and administration should have been held to present evidence, allow students to respond, and explain consequences.
In addition, consequences should be for a defined period, not indefinite. Indefinite suspension punishes without teaching and robs students of crucial learning time before major exams. A week or two of suspension, with a clear pathway back, is more constructive. The school should work with parents to ensure students receive counseling and understand the dangers of their actions, while drawing clear boundaries about consequences for repetition. Research from Uganda shows that positive discipline and alternative methods, including peer-to-peer discipline and rewards for desired behaviour, are effective pathways to reducing violence and building better student-teacher relationships.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, schools must avoid public shaming. The alleged humiliation of students before an assembly of 2,000 learners, referred to as "dancers of bimansulo," is deeply damaging. Shaming tears students down; it does not build them up. Our goal should be to correct behaviour, not ruin reputations. Discipline should be firm but private, with the focus on teaching students to take responsibility for their actions rather than destroying their confidence. When children feel loved and respected, discipline is more easily managed.
Parents' Failings and Legal Accountability
Parents also bear significant responsibility. The police have warned that some parents "negligently expose children to risks by sending them on errands at night or leaving them unattended." In this case, children were allegedly able to organise house parties involving drugs and pornography while under their parents' care.
The Children Act, Cap 59, explicitly states it is a parent's duty to ensure a child's right to education, guidance, and protection from all forms of abuse. The police have specifically warned about exposure to "pornographic stages known locally as 'Ekimansulo,'" stating that "if a child becomes a victim due to negligence, we shall hold accountable those who exposed them to such risks."
Could parents be charged? Yes. Under the Penal Code Act Cap 120, sections 156 and 157 provide for the offence of desertion of children and neglecting to provide for them. The Children Act establishes that parents have parental responsibility over their child on an equal basis. Failure to fulfil these duties could be interpreted as neglect. In extreme cases, a protection order can be issued that may remove a child from parental custody if they are suffering significant harm.
What Parents Should Do Going Forward
Parents must establish clear boundaries and supervision. They must know where their child is at all times, set rules about parties, and monitor phone and internet usage.
Parents should communicate proactively with the school, informing them immediately if they discover concerning behaviour rather than waiting for them to act.
Parents must take accountability, not defensiveness. They should investigate allegations with their child and work with the school on consequences.
Parents should partner with authorities, reporting serious issues to the Child and Family Protection Unit and seeking professional counseling.
Finally, parents must demonstrate reform and support. Parents who show they are taking the matter seriously by implementing consequences at home demonstrate due diligence and make the case for allowing students to return.
The Path Forward
Everyone involved could have done better. The school failed by not involving parents early, not following due process, not reporting to authorities, and resorting to public shaming. The parents failed by not exercising adequate supervision and fulfilling their legal duty of care. The students failed by making poor choices that could have serious consequences for their futures. But they are young. They can learn.
Schools must review their disciplinary policies, particularly regarding off campus behaviour. They must establish transparent procedures that involve parents early, train staff on their legal duty to report to child protection authorities, and prioritise the child's best interests.
Parents must take accountability and work with the school, not against it. Students must understand that their actions have repercussions, but they should also be given a chance to prove they have learned from their mistakes.
Progressive discipline is not about being soft; it is about being smart. It is about teaching, not just punishing. It is about protecting the reputation of the school while safeguarding the future of the child.
The Final Truth
At the heart of this situation are young teenagers at a developmental stage where pushing boundaries is almost expected. They are testing limits and sometimes making terrible decisions. That does not excuse their behaviour, but it must inform our response.
The right consequence, delivered at the right time, in the right way, has the power to transform a young person's life. A consequence that is too harsh destroys their spirit. A consequence that is too soft teaches nothing. A consequence delivered publicly humiliates rather than corrects. A consequence delivered privately and with dignity builds character.
Discipline without dignity is not discipline; it is destruction. Consequences without compassion are not correction; they are cruelty. Accountability without support is not growth; it is abandonment.
Let us choose to be the adults who build young people up, even when we must correct them. Every child is a work in progress. Our job is to help them become the best version of themselves.
For more articles, please visit the Teaching For Success website teachingforsuccess.ca. The writer is an educator and special education specialist, as well as the host of the Teaching for Success podcast series.