Men are social beings endued with responsibilities towards one another in the various spheres of day-to-day activities.

In educational institutions like elementary and secondary schools both public and private, the interaction between teachers and students should at least evolve in a natural course by establishing a harmonious academic relationship;  for the learner to take the full advantage of gaining knowledge and for the educator to efficiently transfer the knowledge which the learner can use in his/her future path.

In view of this, the doctrine about in loco parentis can effectively come in principle of the actual course of the social aspect of the learning process. The term in loco parentisis derived from the Latin “in place of the parent.” The legal doctrine under which an individual assumes parental rights, duties, and obligations without going through the formalities of legal adoption.It describes a relationship similar to that of a parent to a child. For example, legal guardians are said to stand in loco parentis with respect to their wards, creating a relationship that has special implications.

Once a child enters schooling, it is assumed that his/her parent or guardian has already entrusted a part of the parental responsibility to the teacher who will handle the shaping of the mind of the child as a student. Here, the doctrine of in loco parentis comes into application. Therein, the distinction of in loco parentis between being a common and legal laws for that matter is to be clearly defined so as not to violate the civil liberties of both the learner and the teacher.

With the advent of the observance of student’s rights, there are implications wherein the liberty of teacher to discipline students in accordance to ethical standards has been put on hold. Such necessary corrective measures to substantiate the counsel in developing a good citizenry is seemingly being put at bay as of the present,

As a social responsibility, the heart of the matter in loco parentis to be properly applied in educational institutionsneeds to be observed by both the learner and the teacher with mutual respect.

By: Geraldine Aure Noval | Teacher 1 | Bataan National High School