‘Bring back the cane – but only when necessary’
Caning is only to be used for students who have no fear of rules and who transgress the rights of others – a letter-writer to a Malaysian newspaper in 2014 calls for the use of the cane “when necessary.”
Use the rod when necessary
THERE are many people who
are against the “barbaric and inhumane” approach of using the cane to deal with
difficult and problematic kids.
In the letter “Do away with
corporal punishment” (April 3), the writer made a desperate and passionate plea
to counsel and use other soft psychological approaches to discipline difficult
and problematic children.
It is clear that certain
people do not understand or see the severity and seriousness of student
indiscipline in homes and schools.
The writer fails to realise
that students of today are different from the students of yesteryears with
regards to their boldness, aggressiveness and violent nature. Students today
are more boisterous and rebellious because they are more aware of their rights
and know the limitations of the teacher.
European countries that
have abolished corporal punishment are now facing a new kind of threat from
rebellious and violent children called “brat-ocracy”.
Teachers in schools know of
what they are going through mentally and emotionally by student indiscipline.
Students have no fear of teachers. It is not easy to teach without proper class
management.
Teachers do not have the
time to try out the “denial approach” in the classroom. Caning is the only
proven way to get their attention.
No one is advocating that
the teacher resort to caning every student who misbehaves. Caning is only to be
used for students who have no fear of rules and who transgress the rights of other
students. Teachers today are dealing with far more threatening and violent
behaviour among students.
What would you do with
students who are caught smoking repeatedly despite warnings and reprimands,
bring pornographic materials to the class, bully and inflict pain and physical
injury to other students, use fear to extort money, display gangster like
tendencies, play truant regularly, involve in sexual relations with their
schoolmates, use vulgar and abusive language, steal and rob, damage teachers’ cars
and other school property and those who harass and molest female students?
These are just some of the
indiscipline problems faced by some schools and it is for these hardcore
students that the school authorities should be given the power to wield the cane.
The cane should also be
used on students who have no respect for the teachers. Some teachers dread to
enter certain classes which are beyond their control.
Teachers should be given
the authority to wield power to bring order in the classroom and school. Fear
and pain can bring them to their senses.
Most of these student
disciplinary problems can be traced to family problems and bad parenting.
However, schools do not have the time nor the resource to look into this aspect
of family background to tackle the student problem.
Maybe if parents can be
fined or charged for student indiscipline, then corporal punishment can be
abolished in schools.
It would be good if those
who are against caning, could go to schools and provide counselling to overcome
disciplinary problems.
It is easy to preach
non-violence from an ivory tower but not so easy to walk the talk when you are
faced with it head on daily in the classroom.
The reality is some
children only toe the line after they are caned.
Samuel Yesuiah,
Seremban
As published in The Star
(Malaysia), 4 April 2014.
Picture credit: Sting
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