Elimination of Corporal Punishment in schools

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SESSION ARE

Article 21:    Protects the right of life dignity & education to children up to 14 years of age.

The Child Rights:

Under section 17 (1): No child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.

Under section 17 (2): Who ever subjects a child to physical punishment or mental harassment shall be liable to disciplinary action.

Guidelines by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)

U.N.C defines:

Corporal punishment as any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Most involves hitting, smacking, slapping, spanking children with the hand, whip, stick, belt, shoes, wooden, spoon , etc.

Like Corporal Punishment other non-physical forms of punishment are also cruel and degrading.

These include punishment which belittles, humiliates, denigrates, scapegoats, threatens, scares or ridicules the child.

Why Corporal Punishment:

  •  It has been historically justified across the world by common law of doctrine.
  •  It is considered as a tool of discipline where the child is back in the class room, learning new things instead of suspension.

Rational behind Corporal Punishment:

  • Pain, Injury, Insult to the child
  • Deteriorate child’s morale, mental and physical health.

Why Children Misbehaves:

  • Lack of social skills.
  • Children try to test the limit by arguing with rules.
  • Exposure to aggressive behavior from the outside world.
  • Anger, frustration, unhappy environment at home.
  • Hyperactive Child who cannot control their emotions.

Types of Corporal Punishment

Physical Punishment Mental Punishment Discrimination
  • Causing Physical Harm
  • Making them stay in uncomfortable position
  • Forced ingestion
  • Detention
  • Examples include kicking, throwing, pinching, pulling, hair, twisting of arms, or ears etc.
  • Humiliation or Intimidation
  • Calling names, labeling
  • Using of abusive words and languages
  • Usage of sarcastic or rude tone
  • Example include to be verbal abuse, isolation and scaring
  • Caste, class, religion, region based remarks/ prejudices
  • Denying something as a result of discrimination
  • Neglect/ Ignoring
  • Examples include stereotyping, colour, deliberate/ wanton neglect.

 

Effects of Corporal Punishment are:

  • Increased aggression,
  • Destructive behavior,
  • Poor school achievement, attention span & increased dropouts,
  • Lower self-esteem, poor self-control and negative expectations from themselves,
  • Stimulate anger and desire to run away from home/school.

However, Research has shown that :

praises, discussion, positive role models do more to develop the child’s character and respect value rather than Corporal Punishment.

Rewarding is a positive way to teach right and wrong  vs. Punishment may lead to bullying or low-self esteem

Discipline vs. Punishment

Positive Discipline Punishment
  • It is a positive method of teaching a child self-control, confidence, and responsibility.
  • It may be physical as in spanking, hitting, or causing pain.
  • The key to positive discipline is to make them differentiate between different types of behaviors and therefore encouraging them to follow an appropriate behavior.
  • It may be psychological as in disapproval, isolation, or shaming.
  • It focuses on past misbehavior and offers little or nothing to help a child behave better in the future.
  • The focus is on what children are expected and allowed to do.
  • When punishment is used, the person who punishes the child becomes responsible for the child’s behavior.

 

How to implement Positive Discipline:

  • Appraisal behavior should be reinforced.
  • Solve the conflict sympathetically but firmly at the same time.
  • Search the root cause of misbehavior.
  • Keeping in mind Student’s dignity matters.
  • Encourage efforts & improvement of students.
  • Teacher should act as a role model for the students.
  • Effective communication between a teacher and student.
  • Let the children realize their capabilities to foster creativity.

Benefits of Positive Discipline for school students:

  • Students respect the teachers and communicate with them.
  • Students are on their best behavior & discipline.
  • Rules are seen by students as fun.
  • Attendance of students in school improves, and they enjoy coming to school.
  • Student will understand their own behavior better.
  • Show independence, respect themselves and others.
  • It helps students succeed and thrive in school.
  • Schools that take this approach promote positive student behavior while preventing negative and risky behaviors.