Editor,
As I read Ludwig Van Beethoven’s poem, “Whoever feels the joy of music, let him treasure it; but let him not make it his one aim,” I’m reminded of the countless students who’ve lost touch with joy in school. Constant criticism and bullying by teachers can crush a child’s spirit, making school feel like a prison instead of a safe haven. Beethoven’s father repeatedly said, “NOT GOOD ENOUGH” – a phrase that still echoes in the minds of many students today.
A student was terrorized, insulted, and harassed for not wearing her uniform ‘correctly’ – a minor infraction that every other student was guilty of, but she was singled out. Mind you the skirt was two inches shorter than the desired length, a common neglect among students and parents found among growing youths. The question is, why did a teacher feel the need to nitpick so badly that the pupil begged her parents to leave school? Is a uniform more important than a child’s dignity? Was this it or was there something more that made the student constantly raise complaints to the parents about shifting schools? Is this what the education system has come to? Or maybe the real source of pressure is coming from the head of the institution through the teachers?
I recall being humiliated for the way I spoke, walked, my hair colour, and even being ignored when I answered questions in class. I was cornered in a room, made to sit alone, and stood up for an entire period because the teacher was in a bad mood. My notebook was slashed with red ink, even when my answers were correct. The constant belittling made me dread school and fake being sick some days. One incident that still echoes is when a teacher shouted, “Your parents are raising a rebel through you,” just because my hair didn’t match the rest of my length. These experiences chipped away at my confidence, making me question my worth.
When COVID hit, and classes moved online, many teachers overlooked minor infractions like incomplete uniforms. But one teacher chose to insult the student so harsh as though talking to a criminal when classes resumed, leaving the mother in tears and counting days until the end of their period in the institution.
Emotional scars leave lasting marks on a child’s psyche, shaping their mentality, maturity, and personality. Is this what educators want for their students – constant worry, anxiety, and fear? I wasn’t the only one who suffered. Classmates were ridiculed for their accents, mocked for their mistakes, and punished for being different. We’d see teachers smile and praise the ‘perfect’ students, while those who struggled were left behind.
Institutions must prioritize students’ well-being over reputation. You cannot use traditional methods of reprimanding the child constantly until they go numb. Teachers should nurture, not break, young minds. Times have changed. The time is now. Is it worth sacrificing a child’s happiness for a school’s reputation? Are we valuing grades over growth? What about the children who’ve lost their spark?
Teachers have the power to uplift or break. Instead of focusing on the ‘perfect’ students, what if they noticed the quiet ones, too? A little encouragement can spark a lifelong passion. Why not guide those who stumble, rather than belittle them?
We need a shift in how we perceive education. Schools should be spaces where children feel safe, valued, and encouraged to grow, not institutions that crush their spirit. It’s time to ask: What are we teaching our children? Conformity or courage? Fear or curiosity? Yes, teachers are required to discipline when necessary, but is constant nitpicking justified? Picking on every little thing makes a child want to escape. Let’s acknowledge it – this is a form of bullying, and it’s not just between peers. The answer lies in empathy, patience, compassion, and a willingness to listen.
As a student I have gone through constant neglect by the teachers, when I just needed a little encouragement. My talents, my abilities, and skills, were boxed up in the closet drowning under all the others in the spotlight. Maybe if someone saw the struggle, pain, anxiety and aspiration of introverts instead of just focusing on the extroverts who exude confidence there would not have been ranks, tiers and jealousy among the peers.
Yours etc;
Name withheld on request
Via email
Sustainable Development & the Climate Impact of Conflict
Editor,
Sustainable Development is now one of the central concerns of the global community, especially in the face of climate change, environmental degradation, and armed conflict. Although industrial activity is widely recognized as a major source of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, war also causes serious and often underestimated harm to the environment. Unlike regulated industrial sectors, armed conflict usually unfolds in conditions where environmental safeguards are weak, suspended, or unenforceable. As a result, war can intensify climate change, damage ecosystems, and undermine long-term development.
Armed conflict affects the environment in several ways. It destroys infrastructure, disrupts energy systems, contaminates water sources, damages agricultural land, and increases emissions through military operations and reconstruction activities.The Russia-Ukraine war has provided a clear example of how conflict can contribute to carbon emissions while also harming forests, soil, air quality, and public health. In this way, war does not only create humanitarian and economic crises; it also weakens environmental security and climate resilience.
At the international level, climate change has increasingly become a priority in global summits and policy discussions. Major economies are under pressure to reduce pollution through cleaner production, lower emissions, and stronger environmental regulation. “Sustainable development therefore requires cooperation among states through policy coordination, environmental commitments, and responsible trade relations”. Importing goods that cannot be efficiently produced domestically, while exporting surplus goods through environmentally responsible systems, can support economic stability and reduce unnecessary pressure on local resources.
Energy transition is another essential part of sustainable development. Expanding cleaner power generation can reduce dependence on highly polluting practices such as charcoal use and unsustainable mining. This helps protect water resources, forests, agricultural land, and air quality. A modern and efficient power sector can also support industrial growth while lowering the environmental costs associated with traditional, carbon-intensive methods of production.
Trade policy also plays an important role in addressing climate change. When properly managed, import and export systems can promote greener production, improve resource efficiency, and facilitate access to cleaner technologies. In this sense, trade is not merely an economic instrument; it can also become a tool for environmental sustainability and climate mitigation.
The connection between war and environmental damage is increasingly supported by research. Studies on the Russia-Ukraine war have shown that armed conflict can produce substantial emissions and create toxic pollution risks. Research has also found that war can alter land surface temperature, air quality, and ecological stability in affected regions. These findings show that sustainable development must address not only industrial pollution, but also the environmental consequences of conflict.
In a nutshell, sustainable development cannot be achieved without considering both industrial emissions and the environmental effects of war. Climate change is driven not only by factories, transport, and energy use, but also by destruction, instability, and military conflict. Therefore, effective climate policy must integrate environmental regulation, cleaner energy systems, responsible trade, and peace-oriented development planning.
Yours etc.,
Johan Keenan Thabah,
Via email
