Spotlight

Understanding the Dark World- A Teacher's Viewpoint

Munsia Naureen Ahmed

It's a dark world” says one of my students who has been in that world and back, albeit for a very short time. It maybe dark but it's inviting and entices people to its magical illusion of reality. And often, it's this illusion that most drug abusers want to grasp. I haven't experienced that world so I cannot provide a first hand account. But talking to a few who have, I ask what makes them choose to try the drug? What can I, as a university teacher do to untangle the spider web or at least discourage students to not fall in its trap?

Listening to my students, not only are my questions answered but I also get a new perspective on how the young minds think today. I become aware of several reasons to why many students start consuming drugs, whether it's Yaba or something else. To stay or to become cool; to continue being popular or wanting to take the steps to popularity; to search for new thrills or to escape the boredom of a life that is without any forms of entertainment, the youth of today's society is indulging in this dangerous recreation. With the increasing number of educational institutions bounded by the four sides of a cemented block, the students often feel imprisoned. Their boredom combined with peer pressure is a force to reckon with! “It's also no fun to do drugs alone”, says a student of mine with a matter-of-fact tone. That is why friends often influence others to take drugs as it also appeases their guilty consciousness that they are not doing it alone.

We often make judgmental remarks about students, especially from private universities and O and A'Levels, without understanding the causes of their plight that lead them to drug abuse. Instead of giving solutions, we engage ourselves in petty talks about how our generation was so much better than this drug engrossed generation. “What has this society come to?” As long as the problem doesn't knock on my door, it gives us the license to badmouth those less fortunate ones. But as a teacher, I don't think my role is to watch the story unfold while I take a back seat. I believe it is my responsibility to take a central role in understanding the perspective of the youth. If possible, to empathise with those who have taken drugs or are recovering from their addictions. I believe that listening is one of the most important skills but often underrated. Talking to the students, I sense that there are not too many people who listen to them. There are many who hear them but listening is a much more complex skill not many of us have the patience to polish. Although the parents or teachers maybe giving time to be with them, they may fail to see beyond the image and the façade the students often put forward. I feel that listening to them often reveal that the students suffer from low self-esteem and a negative self-image. I also think that it is of utmost importance that the students know that their teachers are accessible and will do their best to solve any problems they may have. That does not necessarily mean the teachers should resolve the issues themselves but appropriately communicate the matter to the relevant person. It is important that the students understand that they will not be judged but heeded to.

Just pressuring students with studies is not the way to keep their minds away from drugs. I feel that all educational institutions should engage students in various kinds of extra-curricular activities. The students I've talked to explained how they feel this is a basic and yet necessary step to prevent students from devoting their time to illegal activities.

I also strongly believe that we need to bring a change in the mindset of today's youth. Just publishing and broadcasting the news of discovery of drugs is not enough. Like all stories, this topic of drug abusers too will slowly start getting less attention in the media. At the same time by saturating the media with drug related stories we do not want people to become desensitised to the issue. As a media and communication teacher, I believe that the media has to strike a balance between reporting the news on drugs and at the same time engage the students to participate in creating media products which will focus on the effects of the drugs and the consequences of drug abuse.

Untangling the spider's web in a dark world may prove to be a difficult task. But I believe that as a teacher, I have to be there for those who escape into the light and stand guard for those who are vulnerable to crawl into the dark; not just through words but through actions.

(Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication Independent University, Bangladesh)