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That was Then, What now? Part One of Two

© Deborah Jeter

I have begun to consider the fact that teaching is harder to do than it used to be. Maybe these feelings pertain more to teachers forty and over but . . . today's students seem to need entertainment, motivation out the wahzoo, and incentives to do what they are supposed to be doing anyway. Teacher frustration is high thus, student frustration is high and we have a vicious circle.

Granted, back in the "dark ages", when corporal punishment was still being used at the discretion of the individual teacher, the method was surely abused by some. However, personal experience has shown me that this method of coercion to participate in learning seemed to work a lot faster and was much more effective in disuading inappropriate behavior.

Corporal punishment refers to intentional application of physical pain as a method of changing behavior. It includes a wide variety of methods such as hitting with wooden paddles, belts, painful body postures, use of excessive exercise drills, or other such methods.

To investigate corporal punishment further, and how the use of it can be abused and misused, let's regard Kenyan law. Kenyan law restricts the use of school-based corporal punishment.

According to the Education (School Discipline) Regulations, corporal punishment may only be administered for certain behavior, after a full inquiry, and in the presence of a witness, but not in the presence of other pupils.

Only the headteacher is permitted to administer corporal punishment, and he or she must use a cane or strap of regulation size, hitting boys on the buttocks and girls on the palm of the hand. The headteacher may give no more than six strokes as punishment, and must keep a written record of all the proceedings.

In 1996 the Director of Education reportedly issued a statement banning the imposition of corporal punishment, although no ban has ever been enforced, and the Education (School Dicipline) Regulations continue to authorize the punishment.

Alternatives to Corporal Punishment Effective discipline includes programs and strategies for changing student behavior, for changing school or classroom environments, and for educating and supporting teachers and parents. Effective discipline includes prevention and intervention programs and strategies. It is empirically based rather than relying on custom or habit.

The following are alternatives which can be initiated and developed or supported by school psychologists and other educators and which help provide an atmosphere where learning can take place and where students learn to be self-disciplined: