I agree that the discipline needs to get tougher, but, first in the home and then in the schools. Parents want to school officials to do what they the Parents should be doing, in the first place.

By lb | August 25, 2009 2:17 PM

Yes Ib charity begins at home.

By kd | August 25, 2009 4:03 PM

This isn't an isolated problem in The Netherlands. In America the same problem exists. Parents are lazy and will allow their children to do whatever they like as long as the child stops bothering the parent. Pretty soon all countries will be run by "Lord of the Flies" children. Imagine what these children will be like when they need to find jobs. Well, if they ever as I am sure they will be on public assistance.

Schools need help from the parents with discipline. Of course a child won't care about answering back if it's no issue at home.

I think people don't realize today is that being a parent is another full-time job. A parent cannot expect their child to obey them if they view the parent child relationship as a friendship. Why? Because kids have friends have varying levels of friendship. So don't expect the child to view the parent as a close friend.

By C Lulu | August 25, 2009 4:30 PM

discipline is essential in the school interms of boosting the standard of the pupil.

By macanow | August 25, 2009 5:49 PM

You have right! Mostly parents expect that school will do their job. But anyway this what I see now in school make me sad.

By JJ | August 25, 2009 8:27 PM

I totally agree with IB. First, I had no idea that Dutch children were calling teachers by their first names. Seems kinda ridiculous.

But it's also ridiculous that Dutch parents want the schools to crack down for them. From 1 and 1/2 years experience living in Amsterdam, my observation is that parents have a pretty laissez-faire attitude when it comes to their children's behavior.

By AK | August 25, 2009 11:28 PM

The parents that are worried are usually parents that are applying discipline at home only to see the schools undermine it by allowing bullying and disrespectful children to ruin it as teachers are too intimidated or unprepared or not allowed to apply the strong discipline needed.

By bet | August 26, 2009 1:08 AM

I admit, I agree with most of these posts.
I live across the street from a grade school and I see daily the lack of respect from the children by allowing them to run all over the place and never mind the litter everywhere as well. not all blame can be placed on the children because it is true, you learn by example and it's obvious they are not getting it at home.
I say the Netherlands should take it a step further and start wearing uniforms!

For those posters who wore uniforms as school kids, do you think there could be some correlation with higher standards? Just curious.

By Tomkat | August 26, 2009 8:55 AM

They wear uniforms in the UK. Do kids behave better there?

By CW | August 26, 2009 9:17 AM

Uniforms? Really?
Do the young in Britain, were most students are obliged to wear one, have more discipline or respect, I think not.

And also, when those parents, that demand more discipline, find themselves in the place where their own child is the one that needs to be disciplined, all hell breaks loose and the schools get blamed. It's the same story all over the world again and again.

By Bjarni | August 26, 2009 9:55 AM

"We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thoughts controlled
There is no sarcasm in the class room
Teachers leave them kids alone..."

By Yassine | August 26, 2009 10:49 AM

Teachers are teachers, not social workers or police officers. They shouldnt be asked to do what the parents should be doing.

By Freddy66 | August 26, 2009 11:33 AM

i guess the system is now going back to its roots..... this what most parents have been yerning for

By bob | August 28, 2009 6:53 PM

I only partially agree to raising the discipline in schools. I was physically and mentally bullied when I was 6 years old or writing with my left hand, and forced to eat food I did not like until I gagged. This was in the days of the dip-pen, glad I left when I was 16!!!

By stevie | August 29, 2009 6:58 PM

I live in the states and believe the children are here wild , but sofar as i know here were i live the childeren called the teachers as miss so and so and that is the way it should be .RESPECT thats the word thanks e

By els | August 30, 2009 9:18 PM