Category: Corporal Punishment

Corporal Punishment: The Solution To Violence In South African Schools

Introduction

Violence in schools whether towards educators or students is an ever-growing problem present in the country and ineffective disciplinary measures are to blame. When the consequence does not weigh up to the severity of the action, the student will not see the reality of said action and will be at risk of committing the same deviant behaviour in the near future as no lesson was learnt. The notion that violence is associated with corporal punishment is looking past the fact that its main goal is to instil discipline within pupils through a direct form of punishment that is almost impossible to misinterpret. In this essay three main ideas will be discussed. The first main idea is how pain is associated with bad behaviour, the second main idea is about respect for teachers being strengthened through corporal punishment and lastly, how peer to peer violence will be reduced through the reimplementation of corporal punishment.

Pain is associated with bad behaviour

Pain is associated with bad behaviour. The association of pain towards bad behaviour will result in the transgressor becoming aware that the identified behaviour should be avoided in order to avoid the repercussion thereof; this will thus inhibit the reoccurrence of said action in future. Pain instils fear and fear acts as a powerful motivator, which brings about a sense of respect towards the authoritarian dealing out the punishment. The reason why students act out in violent or disrespectful manners is due to the fact that they are not fearful of the consequences of their actions, as in today’s world the worst that could happen to a student is three hours spent in silence with an educator. This form of punishment does not address the problem directly or effectively at all, as all that is taken from the child is time which at that age does not mean much at all, no fear is instilled and the risk of the action being repeated is high. It is human nature to stray away from actions that lead to pain an example of this is pulling your hand away from a hot surface, thus it can be said that people in general respond and learn quicker to a pain stimulus. The pain associated with the action will in the broader scheme of things result in children being able to easily identify boundaries that should not be crossed and enable them to make better decisions in life. Once a child has received corporal punishment for violent actions, they will then associate that action with pain and will result in them not committing said violent acts again. In an article on social issues, Paul Goodman states: ‘That is why it has featured as a traditional tool of teachers for so long. There is no other equivalent that acts as both a punishment and deterrent in the same way. The psychological and physical immediacy of a short sharp shock is simply the most effective way to affect behaviour in some circumstances.”(Goodman, 2019) Goodman expresses his opinion on corporal punishment in the article by explaining that there is no alternative manner in which to punish a child than that of corporal punishment. The author agrees that the association of pain towards bad behaviour is the most effective form of discipline as it acts as it not only affects a student physically but mentally as well and by doing so the learner will immediately be able to associated the action that required the punishment as being wrong and will result in said learner deterring from committing the same wrong deed. Therefore, it can be said that pain is associated with bad behaviour. Through the implementation of physical punishments fairness in a sense that only severe actions will require such harsh repercussions. Patrick Lenta (2017) expresses that the severity of a punishment should be a reflection of the seriousness of the offence. The author thus agrees with the fact that corporal punishment is a necessary reinforcement of good behaviour as it brings about harsh punishments for bad behaviour.

Corporal punishment will strengthen respect towards teachers

Respect towards teachers will be strengthened through corporal punishment. Teachers have been battling to enforce their position of authority effectively as the methods they are expected to use are not effective and do not demand the necessary respect from students. The implementation of corporal punishment will result in students identifying educators as an authoritarian figure that enforces a strict form of discipline which will result in students having a newfound respect for the educator. Referring to the previous main idea, identifying fear a strong motivator, in this context fear of the educator’s ability to discipline in a physical manner will enable the educator to set strict boundaries that no one would dare to cross which would create a discipline learning environment. When a schoolteacher enforces the punishment on a student that has behaved badly the lesson will not just be learnt by one student but by all that sees it, this will result in the need for the punishment to enforce discipline becoming less as all the students will be weary to step out of line. The physical pain that corporal punishment brings about, instils a far greater lesson than any form of punishments that has been used by educators in recent times such as detention, writing out and demerit points which has no effect on the overall behaviour of a child.

U.K. Frankie states: “It makes very recalcitrant and stubborn children submit to authority because they fear that if they don’t do the right thing they just might be whipped.”(Frankie, 2018) the author thus acknowledges that through fear a new found respect is developed towards the educator. Once students start to acknowledge an educator as being a figure of authority in the classroom behaviour within will improve and violence outside the classroom will be reduced drastically, as the lessons they have learnt will linger in their minds resulting in them behaving appropriately at all times

Peer to peer violence will be reduced

Bullying comes in many forms, such as, cyber bullying, verbal abuse, intimidation and physical bullying; this is the cause of depression and anxiety amongst many of those that have been affected by one or multiple forms of bullying. This problem has not been dealt with effectively and is still evident within many schools in South Africa. This is due to the presence of minimal disciplinary actions available for educators to use. Students affected by bullying are afraid to speak out as they know the consequences that the bully will face will not measure up to the physical or emotional pain they have experienced or will experience after complaining about the problem to an educator. Until violence against peers is dealt with effectively it will be an ever-increasing problem within our schools as well as the society as a whole. Corporal punishment will tackle the problem head on by administering a punishment that will make the transgressor become aware of the severity of his/her action and will give those affected by violence the courage to speak out as justice will be served. Once there is an environment where the problem is dealt with effectively and where children are not fearful to speak out, violence amongst peers will be reduced drastically and those that still transgress will have to be dealt with through the eyes of the law. Students will be able to identify violent actions as being a severe act, once it is dealt with through corporal punishment and this will not just prevent them from behaving badly at school but also prevent them from being a violent person within the society, they live in. It has been reported that in 2018 there was at least, 25 incidents of reported violence within schools (Daily Maverick, 2018). The statistics shows that the violence that is evident in South Africa’s schools does not just affect the learners but has also affected the lives of those that are trying to stop it – the educators. It is clear that current punishment methods are not instilling the necessary morals within learners and even through the loss of lives there is still no evidence of change to prevent the reoccurrence of such tragic events. Without pressure from government to change disciplinary methods within the education system, this problem will remain, and many more people will be affected.

Ben Brown (2008) emphasizes that due to the hyperactive nature of children, as well as their limited attention, they tend to behave unruly. The author also states that amongst adolescence and young adults is a high percentage of criminal activity and that, that is the reason why corporal punishment is still a preferred form of punishment for parents as well as some teachers. In saying this the author reiterates the importance of curbing bad behaviour at a young age through effective disciplinary methods in order to avoid the reoccurrence of it in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is evident that educators are faced with a generation of troublesome youth that lack discipline and it is clear that the methods of discipline they are using are not improving the situation at all. I believe that only through the reimplementation of corporal punishment will they be able to take away the sense of entitlement today’s youth has and implement discipline and integrity within their lives.

Reference list

1. Brown, B. (2008) Perceptions of student misconduct, perceived respect for teachers, and support for corporal punishment among school teachers in South Korea: an exploratory case study Retrieved from https://linkspringercom.ezproxy.uwc.ac.za/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10671-008-9059-9.pdf
2. Frankie, U. (2018). Advantages and disadvantages of corporal punishment. Retrieved from https://hosbeg.com/advantages-disadvantages-corporal-punishment/
3. Goodman, P. (2019) Argumenta for and Against the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools. Retrieved from https://soapboxie.com/social-issues/Should-corporal-punishment-in-schools-be-allowed-Arguments-for-and-against
4. Lenta, P. (2018). Corporal Punishment: A Philosophical Assessment. New York, New York; Routledge.
5. Simelane, B. (2019). Violence at school: ‘Lack of political will’ blamed, among other factors. Retrieved from https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-06-14-violence-at-school-lack-of-political-will-blamed-among-other-factors/

Should We Provide Corporal Punishment For Bullies?

In our modern day as the different advancement of technology provide us with a better life and a better interaction within each other. Apparently, as people are more close together where they can reach each other in a nick of time. It leads to some feelings of hate, jealousy, anger and other more, where they do use or release it to do hurt other people upon doing this, which is can be defined as a form of bullying. Based on study 1 out of 2 people under 25 years of age do experience bullying in their life (Ditch the Label, 2019). So bullying is a widespread phenomenon that is not much controllable by the authorities and it causes phobia, mental issues, lower grades and other more. On the part of the bully person, I try to think about how they become that kind of person where it is so easy for them to hurt other persons physically nor mentally. So for the people who do give quick punishment for the bullies, I think they’re the kind of person that is ‘one-sided person’. Even though they do hurt a person, they still need a fair judgement like knowing the reason why he does that and what’s going through his mind or life. So I’m fully believed that having a punishment for the bullies will only destroy the physical and mental thinking of the child that will suddenly affect his academic performance for him/her to create a path for a better future.

As a democratic country we do have the freedom of expression, but even though we really feel the freedom that we have in our life we still need the rules and regulations that consider as laws in our society for us to a systematic system in our country in order to maintain the peace and the freedom that we felt nowadays. Strict disciplines that applying does ‘might enhance or result’ to well academic performance (Baumann, C., & Krskova H., 2016). It only means that we should put rules and regulation or even punishment about the cases of bullying it is for us to control and maintain the peace and the joyfulness that the schools should be provided for their students. Also providing punishment clearly create a feeling of peace and systematic surrounding for every student in a school. Based on a study having a corporal or physical punishment towards the student made them to have the right path in life, not to repeat their mistakes and become a well-disciplined student.

From the New Orleans schools, they perform better performance every year. Through having these rules and regulations is the reason for this. But authorities need to ensure the rules and regulations so it doesn’t become a distraction (George, M., 2014). Some teachers do apply corporal punishment because of coming late to school, bad attitude to teachers, doing bad things, fighting with friends, not becoming attentive about the discussion or not answering the questions of the teachers. Through experiencing physical punishment from the authorities they being somehow expelled, scolded, even hit by the stick by their teachers and other more, it resulted to emotional and behavioural breakdowns where it pushes a student or a child to show more a bad attitude towards the other by intentionally for them to let go the anger that they do feel in their teachers

Discipline is very important through the life of a student and as a child, through the concept of discipline that being done in home and school, the child becomes more honest, kind and responsible in life. But discipline is a choice and what kind of discipline they do apply for their child. When a child that being discipline, parent discuss or explain on what do they expect from their child and from the point it is now on their child’s hand either they follow their expectation or to be liberated one. When a child follows all the guidance and to have the discipline in life it really does result in a brighter future of the child where he becomes a role model of the society.

However, doing parental harsh disciplining creates a greater percentage for the increase of risk behavioural problems (Mackenbach, J., et. al., 2014). It only means that having too much expectation and harsh discipline to your child will surely make your child a liberated one. But we all know that discipline is differ from punishment because discipline provides a life lesson to a child while punishment produces a feeling of guilt and anger. Also as a student, it is great to have varieties of expectations from my parents and other relatives. Yet having those expectations really kills me a lot inside where I’ve become too scared onto something even though I can do it or scared of what they think about me after finishing a specific activity, through these I become a lazy one, anxious about my purpose in life or who really am I and seek for happiness by making fun of someone or myself to be fit in what kind of society that we do have now, especially with my friends and it really does my academic performance in school.

Based from Michigan Association of School Administrator, a child that being a bully one doesn’t differ to the person being bullied because a bully one feel anxiety about whether they are going to school or not that results in a lack of interest in their academic performance, also thru these the do feel low self-confidence, depressions, suicidal and other more (Barrington, 2018).

So instead of having corporal punishment by the parents or the teachers, it is more comfortable for them to have some seminar about moral views. In a part of the schools and institutions, they must have a clear message as well as rules and regulations of a zero tolerance of bullying. But in the part of the parents, they must have a huge and active role in paying attention to what their child experiencing most of the time in their home or even school.

In conclusion, being a bully is not being inherited or a disease that can be easily transmitted. It is being acquired by what you experience in life, the surroundings that you have and the way of your thinking. Having a punishment for bullies make them showing more their bad attitude and gain more power by stepping above the weak. Lastly, there is no one to blame or to be punished of being a bully or being bullied by the others, because at the end of the day they do feel the same feeling it only differs from the sympathy that the person being bullied have. Rather than a punishment, we must focus on good moral guidance and development of their self.

References

1. Baumann, C., & Krskova, H., (2016) ‘School discipline, school uniforms and academic performance’, International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 30 Issue: 6, pp.1003-1029, Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-09-2015-0118
2. George, M., (2014, June 10) “Strict rules have helped boost academic performance in New Orleans, but some schools go too far”, Retrieved from: https://hechingerreport.org/strict-rules-helped-boost-academic-performance-new-orleans-schools-go-far/
3. Barrington, K., (2018, May 01) “How Does Bullying Affect a Student’s Academic Performance?”, Retrieved from: https://www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/how-does-bullying-affect-a-students-academic -performance?fbclid=IwAR1KaKgNAgyt2EsYqwLAsFWdk02sA0mSUTp79elbaO1egx7iI 45jnGZ6x 0
4. Mackenbach, et. al., (2014, August 13) “Exploring the Relation of Harsh Parental Discipline with Child Emotional and Behavioral Problems by Using Multiple Informants. The Generation R Study“, Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4132073/?fbclid=IwAR1nhZ3f80U5fbbEWCXvgqIcKXJ4BgwwaQwtDgxToHwPbjKRvBhfpg7Hfcw
5. N.A., (2017, November 17) “Bullying 101: The Ultimate Anti-Bullying Toolkit”, Retrieved from: https://www.ditchthelabel.org/bullying-101/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjrCgqtWa4QIVFa6WCh 2FcABGEAAYA SAAEgKcsfD_BwE&fbclid=IwAR1jRvKLdjNXuDRnwoAoTKGNPVQyJ3r4TDRY_GKRfE np_onNcjgYCE usFIY

Corporal Punishment In India

It is not an exaggeration to state that any form of corporal punishment is evil, degrading, unjustifiable and a gross violation of the rights of children. Corporal punishment, also interchangeably known as physical punishment has been defined by the Committee on the Rights of the Child as “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”) children, with the hand or with an implement – a whip, stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc.”

The Committee doesn’t restrict its definition to physical punishments only. It also includes within the ambit of corporal punishment, “other non-physical forms of punishment that includes, punishment which belittles, humiliates, denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or ridicules the child.” Masquerading as “discipline”, in school settings especially, students are frequently and almost routinely made to undergo physical and psychological violence.

India is no stranger to corporal punishment. Rampant both at home and especially at school, numbers and figures in relation to such punishment are telling. Two national level studies conducted in 2007 and 2009-10 revealed that 65% of children experience physical discipline (not counting mental harassment and almost 99 % of school children are subjected to physical and mental abuse by teachers, respectively. Recently, outside Mangaluru city limits, the ChildLine helpline received 365 complaints pertaining to mental and physical abuse and corporal punishment. Another recently released survey in Bengal, conducted by Campaign Against Child Labour (CACL), also revealed that “children are asked to stand on the bench holding ears or outside the classroom holding ears, beaten on palms, insulted and called names.” These incidents, clearly indicate that even today, this problem persists.

One of the major reasons behind the perpetuation of corporal punishment in India, much like the world, is that it is “anchored in cultural, traditional, even religious belief systems that favour the practice”, even today. That there is a distinction between discipline as constructive and corrective measure and discipline as a punitive and humiliating measure must be acknowledged by parents, teachers and adults alike. Even the Committee for the Rights of the Child acknowledges the importance of “positive discipline” but condemns “the punitive use of force” to discipline a child. Some argue that corporal punishment is in the “best interest of the child”- another principle of paramount importance laid down by the UNCRC. What constitutes “best interest” may be subjective, but the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act 2015 clears the air. It defines “best interest of child” means the basis for any decision taken regarding the child, to ensure fulfilment of his basic rights and needs, identity, social well-being and physical, emotional and intellectual development”. Since, corporal punishment doesn’t serve any of the objectives of best interest, it is clearly unwarranted. Despite the existence of a plethora of research confirming that corporal punishment is ineffective and that “the negative consequences of corporal punishment outweigh any benefits”, the erroneous belief that discipline can be achieved only through infliction of punishment is only indicative of the regressive nature of our society.

While there are numerous policies, enactments and guidelines that prioritize the elimination of corporal punishment in India, the abovementioned figures present a different picture. In order to ban corporal punishment not just in theory, but also in practice, we must clear the misperceptions surrounding it. Public awareness regarding the ill effects of this form of punishment should be disseminated. The fact that inflicting corporal punishment can attract criminal penalty should also be reiterated. Therefore, educating the public, sensitizing teachers in training programmes and informing children of their rights can go a long way in reforming attitudes towards corporal punishment.