Corporal punishment in schools

Madam Butterfly · (#1 (**permalink**))

Most people agree that some of the youth of today are out of control in terms of behaviour/respect etc and they seem to be starting earlier and earlier.

Obviously it is the place of parents (and in some cases extended family) to discipline their children, but it seems there are some who fall down in this respect. (what happened to the old family heirloom of the "beatin' belt"!? lol)

Since kids spend most of their time at school (more and more now with breakfast and after school clubs) does anyone think corporal punishment should be brought back? Would it make a difference?

I know their is the obvious issue of certain teachers taking out their frustrations on children. Plus we have so many child protection laws now it is highly unikely anyway.

Also, many parents would not want their child punished in this way. But some might. What does anyone think of parents having the option for their child to be punished physically (talking canes/rulers here, not being beaten the crap out of!!)

What age is too young? Is their an age thats too old?

In a reasonable situation (ie no fear of the teacher taking advantage of their power) are their any parents who wouldn't mind it?

My view? I have met some children who act like little shits and know they can get away with it because the teacher can do nothing. They then complain to their parent and the teacher has to cop abuse from them. So yes, i think some kids would "fix up" a lot quicker if they knew there was a real consequence.

However i am also in favour of parents having the option for this form of punishment.

I am by no means suggesting that corporal punishment should be used for every infraction, just in the most extreme of cases where the school has done all they can do short of expulsion.

Saida.M · (#2 (**permalink**))

I think when corporal punishment was legal, it fitted in with societies ethos. IE parents were at home, (mainly of course, mothers), and parents would 'beat' their children too. No-one thought deeply about the hidden implications or reasons why these children would be beaten other than that they were 'naughty' and deserve it.

Now even if CP was brought back today,I think so much water has gone under the bridge, in that people are more aware of the hidden reasons there might be, to allow CP back again. They are far too suspicious now and rightly so.

Peodophiles, racism and prejudiceare reasons enough why I could notsupport CP anymore.

Though I would likely accept itin Africa or the Carib.

ebony_goddess · (#3 (**permalink**))

hell no.. i got licks at school in JA and always hated the way they beat kids.

if any teacher or anyone else (non family member) put their hands on my child they shud be expecting a buss-ass from me

Madam Butterfly · (#4 (**permalink**))

Thanks for your comments guys

athaba wrote:

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I think when corporal punishment was legal, it fitted in with societies ethos. IE parents were at home, (mainly of course, mothers), and parents would 'beat' their children too. No-one thought deeply about the hidden implications or reasons why these children would be beaten other than that they were 'naughty' and deserve it. This point i agree with. Children may "act out" for various reasons and getting physically chastised in school may simply add to their problems and do nothing to solve it. That being said, there are children out there whose behaviour is reprehensable. Not all of them have mitigating personal problems: they do it simply because they know the consequences and do not fear them.

Now even if CP was brought back today,I think so much water has gone under the bridge, in that people are more aware of the hidden reasons there might be, to allow CP back again. They are far too suspicious now and rightly so. Again agreed (child protectin laws etc). I know that realistically it can't be brought back. Just wondered if folks thought things would be different if it were, or if we still had it. But again, agreed: we are more aware of what may be causing bad behaviour. It would have to be a judgment call on the teachers part whether or not CP was appropriate for a particular child.

Peodophiles, racism and prejudiceare reasons enough why I could notsupport CP anymore. This too would be my concern as both a parent and a teacher. Thats what i meant when i said i feared some teachers may abuse the power.

Though I would likely accept itin Africa or the Carib.But would you think parents should have the option, or should it just be blanket (apply to everyone)?

Madam Butterfly · (#5 (**permalink**))

ebony_goddess wrote:

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hell no.. i got licks at school in JA and always hated the way they beat kids. Well i only have my mothers stories to go on (!) but i do think this kind of punishment back home was rather gratuitious. I am talking about two strokes with a cane or ruler like implement to the hand.Enough to discourage certain behaviours, but not scar(!) Not talking bout having them bend over and be wacked repeatedly like an errant slave or anything like that.

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As punishment (or discouragment) goes nothing works like humiliation, in ANY situation for ANY age group.For some, the threat of the humiliation of being beaten in front of their peers may be enough to stop them in their tracks.

if any teacher or anyone else (non family member) put their hands on my child they shud be expecting a buss-ass from me Well as i stated, i would only sanction it in the most extreme of cases. So lets say for arguments sake that CP was the norm: If i have felt the need to apply it to a child (and note, i have an extremely high patience/tolerance level!) then the child would most certainly have deserved it. Like i say, i am not suggesting it for every meagre infraction. In this instance i would be fully explaining my actions to the parent and would hope that they could see why the punishment was justified and not "buss my ass" lol

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I have also stated that i think parents should be given the option of whether or not their child is punished this way. So if i did do it, it would be with the full written consent of the parent.

Aryek · (#6 (**permalink**))

Ahem, Madam B, you looking for permission to beat up some disrepectul child?

Backatya · (#7 (**permalink**))

Corporal punishment in schools? Nah, I vote against.

However, I am very much forhandinga severe a** whopping to the parents of the unruly children.

Respect

Madam Butterfly · (#8 (**permalink**))

Aryek wrote:

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Ahem, Madam B, you looking for permission to beat up some disrepectul child?

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Lol Aryek! are you willfully misunderstanding!??! I am not talking about "beating up" a child for being "disrespectful". I am talking about two swift sharp licks with a ruler or similar instrument to the palm of the hand for a child with whom you have tried everything and nothing works.

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If i were going to "whoop" every child for simply being disrespectful i would have muscles in my licking arm lol

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(Sidebar, my mother this morning was telling off my nephew (who will be four next month) for throwing toilet paper on the floor. His respone: "Be quiet Nana, I don't want to hear your voice". Now imagine a four year old Madam Butterfly in 1982 "Be quiet grandmummy, i don't want to hear your voice". Needless to say my four year old self would have been meeting up with my 28 year old self in 2006!! And that would just be fromthe licks of mygrand mother!! (RIP). My mother would then have met me in 2006 and licked me into2021!!)

Madam Butterfly · (#9 (**permalink**))

Backatya wrote:

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However, I am very much forhandinga severe a** whopping to the parents of the unruly children.

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Respect

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Trust me, Backatya I KNOW where you're coming from! But if corporal punishemnt is unlikely to be brought back, the likelyhood of teachers and parents knuckling up in the school hall or playground is even more unlikely! But you just know there are parents out there who uphold their childs wrongs, even when they KNOW they are a nasty little brat. The child does what they want because consequences at school are non existant and nothing will happen when they get home.

Saida.M · (#10 (**permalink**))

Yes MB I would support choice because I couldn't trust anyone to 'lick' my child - true dat.

And I also agree with Backatya some parents need shaping up big time but they got parenting classes now? lol just imagine that in our day!

I canonly go by what I've seen MB but when I was at school, this two sharp raps on the knuckles/palms could also get out of hand. We use to have to witness the same people get rapped in the front of entire school assemblies and believe, they were vicious!

MwemaJ · (#11 (**permalink**))

I voted that it would be the parents' or guardians' job.

But I so like thegivingthe parent/guardian of the unruly child a beat down scenario too.