Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter captioned “The Jamaican experience shows that corporal punishment does not work”, (08.03.12) by that concerned group which was very informative and should be given to every school and teacher. Also the information from UNICEF/UNESCO that was regularly published in Stabroek News Saturday Scene should be compiled and made available for study/discussion at schools.
It is becoming increasi ngly clear that flogging of children is a contributing factor to the spreading violence within societies. It is equally clear that the evidence submitted to support this claim is overwhelming.
While some would argue and even boast of the positive effect that flogging has had on their lives and many others that it has goaded and fine-tuned them into exemplary citizens, on the other side of the coin there is a large body of evidence diametrically opposed to this and which regards it as archaic and counter-productive. They point to the emotional trauma of child brutality under the guise of discipline being inflicted for not being obedient or carrying out specific functions, having a latent effect that is played out in various violent forms during adolescence and adult life by victims of flogging.
The rapid increase in all forms of horrific violence in our society, much of it done by child criminals (12-15 yrs), who instead of being in school are out running helter skelter, is evidence enough to establish the need for a civilised solution to corporal punishment. It is appropriate to quote two paragraphs from that letter that tell of the negative effect of corporal punishment.
“We have done that (flogging) for many years, and do you know what that passes to the students? That the only way to resolve a conflict is through violence, and what is being played out in the society is reinforced everyday by how we as a society impart disciplinary instruction to our young people. 20% of children interviewed said that they would receive corporal punishment for such things as not finishing work, not writing fast enough, spelling words incorrectly etc. This indicates that corporal punishment is not only being used as a means of imposing discipline, but to penalize children whose only ‘crimes’ are being slow learners or underperforming in academic subjects.”
What more can we ask for? Shouldn’t the Ministry of Education be conducting seminars with teachers on this topic using the wealth of scientific information available to revolutionise our disciplinary approach towards our children, creating a healthier condition for learning?
Flogging will definitely force many slow learners out of school, create a hostile learning environment and a dislike for teachers who administer it.
“Discipline is concerned with teaching children what to do as an alternative to misbehaving. The ultimate goal of discipline is for children to understand and take responsibility for their own behaviour and choices. In other words they learn positive ways of thinking and behaving that can last a lifetime.”
I submit that many teachers themselves are lost and lack the ability/capacity to bring about change.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
