Dear Ms. Chantalle Smith,
I read your column in KN (7th January, 2007). As chief proponent to abolish Corporal Punishment (CP) please clarify the under mentioned:
1. What is CP?
2. What was CP intended to achieve?
3. Are the data analyses and statistics being used to support the banning of CP in Guyana the results of studies done in Guyana or the USA?
4. And if the studies are USA should Guyana holistically adopt or impose the realities of another country to inform decisions in their’s? If not where are the local studies and what are the findings, inclusive of the period of research?
5. What are the specific alternatives to CP? Name them and show their comparative value in terms of research findings and date of research. Please remember understanding is sought here from a local or Caribbean perspective.
6. What systems or advice do you plan to recommend in order to achieve # 3 and # 4
7. Will CP be instantaneously banned or will it be phased out?
8. What systems are going to be put in place and how will they be managed to ensure children obey and respect authority in the process of becoming responsible students, workers and products of society?
9. What systems are going to be put in place to ensure that teachers achieve the Ministry of Education’s objectives and are respected and protected?
10. Should CP be seen in isolation of the overall behavioural patterns in society as regards to the tenets of acceptable code of conduct (or societal values) as demonstrated by government officials, political leaders, police force, drug lords etc? If not how do you plan to deal with same?
11. In answering # 8 , 9 and 10 how do advocates to abolish CP plan to promote and project positive role models that our children and or their family can use as yard sticks for emulation of positive societal values?
12. Is there a children’s study which cites their views on CP or any discipline? Where is the study and what are the findings, including the period of research(s).
13. Based on your answers of # 1 to 12 are you and Guyana sure we are ready and equipped to constructively deal with the issue of CP?
Yours faithfully,
Sonjay Thom
