We received an overwhelming response to last week’s debate on corporal punishment. While a majority of respondents were totally opposed to it, a few voted for the cane. We publish below a few of the responses.

Educate the teaching community
It is unfortunate that on this issue of corporal punishment a  school teacher is looked upon as the villain. A teacher is fully justified in disciplining a student in a manner that may not hurt either physically or mentally.  Many a time a teacher succumbs to pressures and stress and reacts to the conduct of a student.  In doing so the easiest method to discipline a child is to resort to physical assault.  What should be given a thought is whether a teacher derives any pleasure in inflicting punishment against a student. If punishment is inflicted to satisfy sadistic pleasures, such a person is a criminal and deserves to be punished. 

A code of conduct is necessary to be drawn by experts in the field to prevent abuse of authority and status of a teacher. Making actions of a teacher concerning a student a cognisable offence will only prove counter productive and not in the larger interests of the student community. Educating the teaching community of the consequences of corporal punishment is the need of the hour.  It is a long process, yet it is effective and useful.

S V Shashidhar, Bangalore

Corporal punishment is of little use
Ruskin Bond has made some interesting revelations with regard to corporal punishment. Paying tribute to a former school-teacher, he writes, 'I remember Mr Jones. He was only a junior master at my school. He was one of those rare people at the time — a teacher who did not believe in corporal punishment. Fifty years ago, flogging was still the order of the day… Most teachers, even prefects, were expected to cane and many did so with enthusiasm. Not so Mr Jones. He refused to cane anyone. During the war, Jones had seen some real suffering at first hand and saw no merit in inflicting pain on anyone — least of all on a schoolboy. … On holidays I would call on him to borrow books. He had a complete set of Dickens and lent the volumes one at a time. … Reading became my religion and authorship my goal.'

One may safely draw certain conclusions from the foregoing account. Among the many who taught him, Bond singles out for special mention the one teacher who was against corporal punishment. In the place of corporal punishment, Mr Jones chose understanding and sympathy and this undoubtedly was the secret of his success.

Corporal punishment is of little use because it benefits neither the receiver nor the giver. A child who is beaten may change his behaviour, but not for long. The moment he is free of the terrifying force, he will revert to his original behaviour. Physical punishment will stop a child from doing something wrong, but it will not teach him why it is wrong and what the right thing to do is. It will make him rebellious and rouse in him feelings of hatred against authority and rules. He will become blind to that most important thing of all—control over self.

What then is the best way to inculcate discipline? The teacher herself must be a living example. If she is late, she cannot expect children to be punctual. She must strive hard to be what she expects the children to be.

There will be occasions when punishment is necessary. It could consist of cutting marks, staying in class during part of the recess or doing additional homework. Punishment must also be related to the wrongdoing. For instance, if a child is guilty of untidiness, he should be made to clear it up.

A committee of teachers and pupils could be formed where children themselves have a say in the kind of punishment to be given. Regular interaction between teachers and parents will help. Games and extra curricular activities enable children in imbibing rules. Counselling will also help a great deal. 
Leela Ramaswamy, Bangalore


Love can replace the cane
Through corporal punishment we terrorise students into submission or we think so. We fail to understand the mind set of the children of today. They are very sensitive, emotional, and aware of their rights and are well informed. Introduction of corporal punishment, I believe can only make people more rebellious.

I think it is the right time for us to make an introspection. Remember that the behavior of the teachers is closely watched by the students. Unless we set a good example to our students, no persuasion on our part can lead to a conducive learning environment.

The role of the parents in inculcating values need to be emphasised. It is said that "the greatest class rooms that transform children are not in the universities, colleges or schools but around the dining tables at home"

I do believe that love can replace the cane. Let children get a feeling that we care for them. Let us bring our children closer to us and inculcate the spirit of working together for the common goal. Let us be catalysts and a positive force in remolding the personalities and characters.  Being in the teaching profession for the past twenty one years, I can vouch for the success of this approach.
Prof Samuel K Samuel,
Brahmavar

No cane please!
As a teacher for more than twenty-five years, I have tried out several methods in the classroom though I have never inflicted corporal punishment. From brandishing the scale menacingly to counselling lovingly, I have tried different methods in graded degrees according to the intensity of indiscipline. In most cases the last one has worked. When the child adores and respects a teacher, he/she will be enthusiastic to please the teacher. The slightest expression of disapproval or disappointment on the face of the teacher is enough to send the message across and the child will go to any extent to correct his/her way to regain the teacher’s approval.

In order to gain admiration from pupils the teacher must be knowledgeable, resourceful, understanding and more than all affectionate. The teacher should make a conscious effort to enter the hearts of the children. It requires a lot of effort and patience, but it can work wonders in transforming the little devils into adorable angels.

Indira N Char


Wrong answer
The question whether corporal punishment is necessary or not is futile as young children cannot be considered as criminals to be awarded punishment for small misdemeanours. Efforts must be made to correct them with love,affection and understanding. Punishment will not reform children, rather it will  make them more rebellious towards their parents,teachers and others in the long run.
 V Padmanabhan, Bangalore

Alternative measures
Instead of corporal punishment alternative measures can be used to make the child accountable and responsible for his deeds. For eg.

1.Not submitting homework - The student could be made to help out a junior student to complete his work during a games period apart from doing his own work. The teacher concerned could decide the time.

2.Indiscipline - The student should help out at an orphanage or old people’s home for a required period of time after school hours.

3.Distracting/talking in class - The student could be made to speak on a given topic in the assembly or speech contest in school. This will divert his energy in a constructive way and help in his personality development.
4.Procrastination - Certain privileges like TV viewing, party going, movies, personal mobiles and bikes could be withdrawn for a week. This is a good lesson to let the student understand that all things in this world are not free.


5.Absenteeism and bunking classes - Decline the child of some pleasure activity.

Any of the above remedial methods can be decided during a brain storming session between the students themselves so that each student is accountable for his actions. It is also necessary to involve parents at various times during the academic year to appraise them of any behaviour problems that their child might have. Very often the parents are blind to the faults of their child.

One must remember that punishments are not meant to torture the child but to prevent him from taking the wrong path in life. He must realise that the punishment is for his wrong deed not for him as an individual.

Nirupma Ramesh

The cane is fine
Yes, it is 100 % justified! Psychiatrists and educationists who are against corporal punishment don’t have any practical knowledge about the school environment.

Is there any mother, who has shown her affection and concern for her child without beating him or her at least  once? How can a teacher teach without punishing students once in a while?  

I am against corporal punishment if it has a long-term effect on the student’s mind or body. If the intention of the punishment is to achieve all round development of the children, then there should be no problem.

The Department of Public Instruction has to think thoroughly before making it a rule. If it bans corporal punishment, I request that no action is taken on teachers if results are poor.
Sangamesh Menasinakai, Gadag