Dear Editor,
Not too long ago I attended my child’s school PTA meeting and listened carefully as two hostile parents declared that teachers at the school should not listen to the Ministry but they should “bust in my child’s tail”, in the words of one.
They really believed that licks was necessary.
But as they continued the truth suddenly became apparent to me. Here were parents who tried corporal punishment (CP) at home and failed. They were both hoping that the teacher would fare better by applying the same method. They strongly wished to prove that their chosen method could be a success. It would save face. It was a matter of personal esteem.
They could not come to terms with the fact that their chosen method of discipline was wrong in the first place. They felt that they needed the support of the teacher for success. The last parent complained that despite all the licks her child got at home he still persisted in unruly behaviour.
Therefore, she said the teacher must “bust in he tail”.
She could not see clearly the failure of CP because she had already deceived her herself into believing that CP works or could work. She had deceived herself that CP was right.
Her stubborn nature would not allow her to consider other ways because it had become a matter of proving herself, of personal pride, of saving face.
Teacher action would boost these two parents’ morale and supplement and compound their actions with a vengeance. And nearly all the other parents clapped and roared in appreciation of their presentation.
Now if this is a sample of what goes on at other PTAs then parents are in overwhelming support of CP. It was a sad day. But CP is in place because parents, not teachers, desire it.
Those who wish to see real change will have to change their strategies and counsel the parents. Parents, it seems, do not want to examine themselves at all. It’s all the child’s fault not theirs they say.
Yours faithfully,
Kenneth Daniels