In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour.

In numerous nations educational institutions are facing serious difficulties with the conduct of their pupils. This essay will suggest that poor parenting is the root cause of this phenomenon and submit that a public awareness campaign is the most viable solution, followed by a reasoned conclusion. The principal cause of poor discipline in schools is poor discipline at home. Many mothers and fathers either do not have the time or the skills required to teach their youngsters the value of manners and respecting authority. This results in many young people not listening to their teachers, being rude and actively rebelling against rules and regulations. For example, a recent study by Cambridge University found that 1 in 3 teenagers would refuse to comply with a rule if they didn’t agree with it, compared to just 1 in 8 in a similar study in 1990. The most practical solution to this problem is a government sponsored awareness campaign. An effective advertising campaign could warn of the dangers of misbehaviour and hopefully raise awareness amongst the public. For example, the United Kingdom recently lobbied their citizens to teach their children about the importance of respecting teachers and this resulted in a dramatic improvement. In summary, widespread negative behaviour in the classroom has been caused by caregivers not instilling the values of deference and civility in their offspring; however this can be tackled through a public education programme that promotes these values. It is also recommended that people should attend parenting classes before their child starts kindergarten.