RCE2601/0/2023
Research and Critical Reasoning
RCE2601
Year module
Department Curriculum and Instructional
Studies
Assignment 2 Due date: 31 July 2023
Instructions for Assignment 2
STUDENT DECLARATION FORM
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES
1
,Table of Contents
Part A....................................................................................................................................................... 3
After you've finished reading the article, please respond to the following questions. ............... 3
1. Give your own title to this scholarly article that you have read.(2) ................................................... 3
2. Using a critical lens, conduct an analysis of the context of this article as well as the problem
statement. (8) ........................................................................................................................................ 3
3. Identify the participants who participated in this piece of writing and describe the process that
was utilised in selecting them. (4) ...................................................................................................... 4
4. Derive your own research question and a related sub-question from the information presented in
the article. (4) ................................................................................................................ 5
5. Compose your very own research goal and an objective based on what you've read in the article. 5
6. Locate the article's literature review and place all of the relevant information on a single page.
Your review of the relevant literature needs to include topics and subtopics. Read the entire article
so that you can obtain the necessary literature. (20) ....................................... 6
7. Analyse the selected theoretical framework for this article. (4) ................................................ 8
8. Evaluate the method of data collection and analysis that was used in this article.
(4) .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
9. Explain the methodology of the research that was conducted. (6) .............................................. 11
10. The findings of the research shed light on the challenges faced by South African public school
teachers in disciplining learners in the context of changing legislation and children's rights. ............ 13
11. Evaluate the concluding paragraph and state your recommendation (one recommendation) with
regard to the research problem. (4) .............. 15
Part B..................................................................................................................................................... 17
1. In your opinion or based on your past experiences, do students exhibit discipline while in school?
Discuss. (10) .............................................................................................................. 17
2.What kinds of policies regarding student conduct are put into place in schools? How exactly are
these policies put into action? (10) ........................................................................................ 17
3. If students repeatedly disobey school regulations, in your opinion, what course of action should be
taken? (5)...................................................................................................... 19
Part C ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................... 20
To complete this assignment, please compile a list of all references that were used. Referencing
should be done in the Harvard format. (5) .......................................................................................... 20
References ............................................................................................................................................ 20
2
, Part A
After you've finished reading the article, please respond to the following questions.
1. Give your own title to this scholarly article that you have read.(2)
"Coping with Difficulties: How Teachers View Discipline, Authority, and Classroom
Management in South African Schools"
2. Using a critical lens, conduct an analysis of the context of this
article as well as the problem statement. (8)
Analysis of the context and problem statement:
The article explores the topic of teachers' rights and responsibilities in disciplining
students in South African public schools, particularly in light of changing laws that
prioritize children's rights. It discusses the traditional concept of "in loco parentis,"
where teachers acted as guardians and disciplinarians for students. By critically
analyzing the article, we can consider various aspects, including the sociopolitical
context of post-Apartheid South Africa, the historical background of educational
practices, and the underlying assumptions in the problem statement.
Sociopolitical Context: South Africa's history, including the Apartheid era, has had a
significant impact on various institutions, including education. New legislation
emphasizing children's rights reflects a broader movement toward social justice and
human rights in the post-Apartheid period. However, the article suggests that these
laws may have unintended consequences, with teachers feeling disempowered due
to a potential power imbalance in schools. Reforming educational practices in a
country with deep-rooted inequality and social challenges is complex.
Historical Background: The article discusses the historical concept of "in loco
parentis," which gave teachers authority to discipline students as surrogate parents.
This hierarchical structure might have been abused or misused over time.
Problem Statement Analysis: The main problem addressed in the article is the
uncertainty among teachers regarding the extent to which they can discipline
students under the new legislation that protects children's rights and bans corporal
punishment. A critical analysis raises questions about whether the focus is overly on
teachers' sense of disempowerment and if it adequately considers the importance of
3
Research and Critical Reasoning
RCE2601
Year module
Department Curriculum and Instructional
Studies
Assignment 2 Due date: 31 July 2023
Instructions for Assignment 2
STUDENT DECLARATION FORM
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL STUDIES
1
,Table of Contents
Part A....................................................................................................................................................... 3
After you've finished reading the article, please respond to the following questions. ............... 3
1. Give your own title to this scholarly article that you have read.(2) ................................................... 3
2. Using a critical lens, conduct an analysis of the context of this article as well as the problem
statement. (8) ........................................................................................................................................ 3
3. Identify the participants who participated in this piece of writing and describe the process that
was utilised in selecting them. (4) ...................................................................................................... 4
4. Derive your own research question and a related sub-question from the information presented in
the article. (4) ................................................................................................................ 5
5. Compose your very own research goal and an objective based on what you've read in the article. 5
6. Locate the article's literature review and place all of the relevant information on a single page.
Your review of the relevant literature needs to include topics and subtopics. Read the entire article
so that you can obtain the necessary literature. (20) ....................................... 6
7. Analyse the selected theoretical framework for this article. (4) ................................................ 8
8. Evaluate the method of data collection and analysis that was used in this article.
(4) .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
9. Explain the methodology of the research that was conducted. (6) .............................................. 11
10. The findings of the research shed light on the challenges faced by South African public school
teachers in disciplining learners in the context of changing legislation and children's rights. ............ 13
11. Evaluate the concluding paragraph and state your recommendation (one recommendation) with
regard to the research problem. (4) .............. 15
Part B..................................................................................................................................................... 17
1. In your opinion or based on your past experiences, do students exhibit discipline while in school?
Discuss. (10) .............................................................................................................. 17
2.What kinds of policies regarding student conduct are put into place in schools? How exactly are
these policies put into action? (10) ........................................................................................ 17
3. If students repeatedly disobey school regulations, in your opinion, what course of action should be
taken? (5)...................................................................................................... 19
Part C ..................................................................................................................................................... 20
Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................... 20
To complete this assignment, please compile a list of all references that were used. Referencing
should be done in the Harvard format. (5) .......................................................................................... 20
References ............................................................................................................................................ 20
2
, Part A
After you've finished reading the article, please respond to the following questions.
1. Give your own title to this scholarly article that you have read.(2)
"Coping with Difficulties: How Teachers View Discipline, Authority, and Classroom
Management in South African Schools"
2. Using a critical lens, conduct an analysis of the context of this
article as well as the problem statement. (8)
Analysis of the context and problem statement:
The article explores the topic of teachers' rights and responsibilities in disciplining
students in South African public schools, particularly in light of changing laws that
prioritize children's rights. It discusses the traditional concept of "in loco parentis,"
where teachers acted as guardians and disciplinarians for students. By critically
analyzing the article, we can consider various aspects, including the sociopolitical
context of post-Apartheid South Africa, the historical background of educational
practices, and the underlying assumptions in the problem statement.
Sociopolitical Context: South Africa's history, including the Apartheid era, has had a
significant impact on various institutions, including education. New legislation
emphasizing children's rights reflects a broader movement toward social justice and
human rights in the post-Apartheid period. However, the article suggests that these
laws may have unintended consequences, with teachers feeling disempowered due
to a potential power imbalance in schools. Reforming educational practices in a
country with deep-rooted inequality and social challenges is complex.
Historical Background: The article discusses the historical concept of "in loco
parentis," which gave teachers authority to discipline students as surrogate parents.
This hierarchical structure might have been abused or misused over time.
Problem Statement Analysis: The main problem addressed in the article is the
uncertainty among teachers regarding the extent to which they can discipline
students under the new legislation that protects children's rights and bans corporal
punishment. A critical analysis raises questions about whether the focus is overly on
teachers' sense of disempowerment and if it adequately considers the importance of
3
