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Corporal punishment in schools – The real picture
Dear Sir,
The beating of mothers, fathers, children and any other human being is wrong and extremely distasteful. It is reprehensible; degrading to both the person carrying out the act and the victim and it is an act of violence that can perpetuate violence.
To those who claim that ‘licks’ was beneficial to them I honestly do not know whether to sympathize with or to congratulate them on being beaten. Some persons probably felt that they needed’ licks’ to focus. Some people even like being beaten so that they can wallow in self pity afterwards.
Many children suffered as a result of these hostile acts. I can recall the ‘bad ‘boys in class placidly taking their licks as we all looked on admiringly wondering at their ability to withstand blows. I didn’t see their performance improve in class.
I’ve seen a teacher with a gleam in his eye and a smirk on his face happily caning students. He relished the act and all but licked his lips in delight as he vented his frustration possible at home by delivering telling blows. We have all heard stories of teachers beating female students spitefully because of non-cooperation to their amorous advances.
There were teachers whose limited ability to teach was camouflaged by unreserved ‘licks’; teachers who failed to understand the limitations of students and through utter ignorance found joy in whipping them.
I certainly did not benefit from the ‘licks’ system as one reader suggested. I know of one student who was beaten regularly and who one day just didn’t show up in class. He never returned to school.
There were students with fearful looks on their faces during the teaching of certain subjects who just ended up hating the particular subject area.
Students who stayed away from school due to fear of licks because they found it difficult to do the work. Students who were made to feel inadequate were further degraded by ‘licks’.
School is a learning institution. Children go to school to learn not to be disciplined. There will be negative interaction and disagreements as in any social institution of which the administration will have to find favorable ways to deal with. There are already the police to deal with extreme cases.
Many parents who advocate corporal punishment want their children to be disciplined in school. They are unwilling or unable to or just make no time to discipline their own children. There are parents who just couldn’t care less about their children’s moral development.
Instead of advocating ‘licks’ teach your children love, generosity and the benefits of a good education.
Why not have lashes in a ‘controlled’ manner for those parents who fail to teach their children ethics.
B. Shivdas
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