Dear Editor,
We have yet another ‘intelligent’ adult, a former Minister of Government (see SN letter, October 21, 2023), joining the ‘better-for-having-been-beaten brigade’ in support of violence against children.
How can perpetrating individual and institutional corporal punishment be considered a ‘form’ of discipline? The word ‘discipline’ is derived from the word ‘disciple.’ Violence against children by teachers and others with responsibilities for children’s well-being is indiscipline, to put it mildly, not discipline. It is lawlessness and unlawful in view of our legal statutes against physical ‘assault’ and international child protection conventions. It is obnoxious and unnatural to deliberately set out to hurt, humiliate, and punish children. Corporal punishment is a crude and cruel use of power over those with less power. It is irrational and illogical when used by adults to correct children’s ‘bad’ behaviours.
Children, under our laws any person under 18 years, spend their childhood observing and learning from the behaviours of the adults who have power over them. Children bullied in homes and schools are being taught life lessons on the use of violence. Violence breeds violence. The outcomes of our barbarous practices towards our offspring can be much, much worse. We must be grateful that our children, generation after generation, have been mostly forgiving of the vicious trespasses of their elders.
The use of physical punishment to abuse the bodies of others, from the era of colonization, enslavement, indentureship, and specifically since, largely explains why so many forms of violence are now the norm in Guyana.
It is astonishing to me (a no-nonsense mother and teacher of 50+ years) that violence against our children continues to be perpetrated, recommended, promoted, justified, sanctified, organized, and that we are engaged in yet another round of ‘consultations’ with perpetrators and other defenders of violence against children!
How about nurturing children by showing and showering love, kindness, respect, care, understanding, teaching, and teaching, and leading by example? And how about treating those children who come to us, mal-formed and deformed, because they have been hurt and have not had their need for this type of attention and affection as especially needy and worthy of our love?
Sincerely,
Bonita Harris
