It's no longer news, nor is it new, that the role of a teacher is beyond just imparting academic knowledge to students. We've, through the years, come to understand that it goes beyond that to even instilling morals and discipline so as to shape this young mind to become the best version of themselves and be a good influence on their society. However, despite how great the role of a teacher is, we can't forget the fact that many, including their employer, believe that their power and authority lie within the four walls of the school. But then what should a teacher do if perchance they saw their students misbehaving in the society? Should they still use the authority they're bestowed with in the school, or should they neglect the situation since it's outside their jurisdiction? Below I'll be stating my take on this.
To start with, it's worth noting that I'm a teacher by profession and not only understand the questions very well but have also found myself in that situation on several occasions. So I'd most likely be speaking out of experience as well as from my logical point of view. So without further ado, let's get to it. First and foremost, when it comes to discipline in schools, we must understand that we're no longer in the days where corporal punishment is allowed in our schools, because the government, parents, and school authorities all stand against it, which is unlike how we were raised or our days in school, where it was very much allowed.
So in the light of that understanding, I'd be responding to what was expected of a teacher to do back then and now. So to start with ten years ago and beyond, if such were to play out and the teacher saw it, it's worth noting that even without the teacher saying or doing anything, the students seeing that the teacher saw them display an inappropriate act alone would instill great fear in them, to the point where they'll literally start trembling or run away and desist from what they were doing. Although that doesn't stop the teacher from punishing such students there and then, I'm just saying seeing the teacher alone makes the students rethink their decision.
What brings about such fear in the students isn't just the fear of them seeing their teachers, but because they know teachers have the right to punish students anyhow they seem fit. However, nowadays the reverse is the case, because teachers are warned not to use any form of corporal punishment. The students know this, and so do the parents, and this has given them the confidence to do anything they like, knowing fully well that the teachers can't beat them. The highest you can do is maybe report them to higher authority or give them minor punishment, such as sweeping the surroundings and the like. So even if they see the teacher outside, they might not fear at all, because they know it's beyond his jurisdiction.
Regardless of the reality of today's society on punishment from teachers to students, I must say that it doesn't give leverage for students to do anything wrong or misbehave, either within the school or outside the school, when they see a teacher. The way you carry yourself, present yourself to the students, and act around them is what gives them a picture of your kind of person, and they'll learn to respect and give you regard regardless of whether you try to correct them, be it within or outside the school.
If you're the type who hardly cares about students' behavior or plays with them often without sparing time to be serious, sharing good advice, and laying down rules that you stand by consistently, they won't yield to your command even in the school, not to mention outside, but when you do the opposite of what I highlighted above in this paragraph, they dare not do anything bad in your presence, knowing fully well that you're a man of principle and consistent in his word and discipline.
But beyond that, is the teacher within their rights if they punish a student outside the school? I'll say it's both yes and no, but I think I'll go with the no. Why? Because although when I say yes, it's because beyond being a teacher, you're an adult that ought to correct your ones when they do something wrong, but I'm saying no because of the safety. It's no longer news that some students do terrific things to their teachers outside the school, from beating them to some students even killing their teachers due to one reason or another, so for your own safety as a teacher, I'll advise teachers to abstain from punishing students or doing anything that'll provoke students outside the school.
All photos are mine.