People split on bringing back the cane in schools, survey reveals
Half of people in New Zealand support the reintroduction of corporal punishment in schools, according to a national survey in 2010.
Bring the cane back in schools — survey
Half of New Zealanders support the reintroduction of corporal punishment
in schools, according to a national survey of 1,000 people.
The poll, by Curia Market Research, asked: ‘‘Do you think a school
should be able to choose to use corporal punishment, if the board, parents and
principal wish to have this as an option for school discipline?’’
Fifty per cent agreed, 44 per cent disagreed and 6 per cent were
undecided.
Bob McCoskrie, the spokesman for lobby group Family First, claimed
violent incidents in secondary schools this week were proof of a need for
stricter punishments.
He claimed that the removal of corporal punishment had resulted in
‘‘more dangerous’’ schools that were tolerating an unacceptable level of
violence and offensive behaviour.
This week, maths teacher Steve Hose, of Te Puke High School, was stabbed
four times in the neck and shoulder by a 13-year-old boy in Year 9.
Mr Hose was rushed to Tauranga Hospital and the boy was put in the care
of Child, Youth and Family.
On Thursday, Hamilton Girls’ High School was locked down for about half
an hour after a 15-year-old student walked into a classroom hunting for another
pupil.
Police said the incident seemed to be in response to bullying.
Family First is calling the results of the survey, which was conducted
in March, to be considered by the authorities. Anti-smacking laws forbid
corporal punishment.
Mr McCoskrie said that violence, indecent assaults and serious and
sexual assaults would only continue if more ‘‘effective’’ punishment was not
carried out in schools.
As published in The New Zealand Herald, 15 May 2010
Picture credit: Unknown
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