A return to caning
Categories: Kids 8-11, Teens & Tweens, Education
According to the Times, one in five teachers in the UK would like to be able to use corporal punishment in the classroom. Children's behaviour, they say, has deteriorated so much that they feel the need to hit the children. "There is justification ... for bringing back corporal punishment, if only as a deterrent." claims Ravi Kasinathan, a primary teacher. "I believe some children just don't respond to the current sanctions.""Children's behaviour is absolutely outrageous in the majority of schools," says supply teacher Judith Cookson. "There are too many anger management people and their ilk who give children the idea that it is their right to flounce out of lessons for time out because they have problems with their temper. They should be caned instead." So I guess the idea is that if a kid is having issues with anger, instead of teaching them to remove themselves from the situation and calm down, they should just hit.
There are times, believe me, when I feel like whipping my kids but that doesn't mean I should. Whether it's in spite of my parents using corporal punishment or because of it, I simply don't think hitting kids will solve anything or set a good example.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jan Bay 10-04-2008 @ 10:41PM
I would love to see a survey on how many of those teachers admit to beating their own children with a cane for the occasional transgression or if they just want to whip other people's kids to make them toe the line.
I see out of control kids every day and sometimes it's a little hard to take, but the idea of hitting them never enters my mind. How an educated person could ever think that corporal punishment is the best way to raise well behaved, happy children is beyond me.
Jan from http://www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com/
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SKL 10-04-2008 @ 11:38PM
I agree that corporal punishment should be available to schools as one of many discipline options. I believe it would make kids more serious about their behavior, whether or not they were ever "caned."
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Kat 10-05-2008 @ 4:33AM
As a UK resident I am shocked that any educator feels that violence is apropriate for children. I wonder if they would accept being caned for their own mistakes? Children have the right to live free from fear and violence.
Kat from www.mamatobegoodies.co.uk
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pbhj 10-05-2008 @ 12:46PM
Just a FWIW, I'm trying not to bite with this trollish article, but most Teachers in the UK suffer "physical abuse" from the children they are trying to teach - I'd be prepared to say that all Teachers in state schools suffer verbal/psychological abuse. So the naughty kids (which is often a euphemism for criminal) then get out of the lessons - their education suffers and by being badly behaved they get what they _think_ they want, to skip lessons.
Physical punishment is not violence per se. For example, if perpetrators of rape were given 20 lashes (as they are in some places) I wouldn't consider that a violent act - it's a premeditated justified use of physical force.
Like it or not pain teaches us - touch a hot oven, you learn not to touch it again.
The current regime of simply talking to children, perceived by the kids as no punishment (or sometimes a reward), is simply breeding a society of thuggish violence of youths that violate the rights of others to peaceably enjoy public spaces as a fun activity.
Karen 10-05-2008 @ 11:47AM
I have no problem with parents spanking children in their home.
However, I do not trust the schools to administer spankings properly. Therefore, nobody but me will be spanking my children.
Although they did send home a permission slip - which I promptly sent back - HELL NO!
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Heather 10-05-2008 @ 2:16PM
I agree they need to be able to do something . They need to have more power of dicipline, but I think Caning is a bit extreme. Even the strap isn't as bad as caning. I never had the ruler on the palm but I was hit across the head by another kid and it hurt like the dickens.
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votetheday.com 10-08-2008 @ 11:44AM
You can express your opinion on this controversial topic right here - http://www.votetheday.com/society-18/caning-is-returned-to-schools-313
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yellowlab 10-08-2008 @ 11:03AM
Spare the rod, spoil the child.
With that said, it's not about the parent, you have to find the punishment that works for your child. every child is different some respond to spanking, and some respond to taking the toys away, and some respond to time out. But above all they respond to talking, explaining why you have to spank etc. Personal, we use all of the above when appropriate.
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