Facing corporal punishment

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WITH RESPECT, the Jamaica Teachers' Association is hedging on the subject of corporal punishment in schools by placing conditions on its administration. To think that the effects of corporal punishment can be lessened, deterred or completely avoided by such measures as having the punishment administered by people with "a certain level of maturity," as stated by Professor Errol Miller, or administered "in private," is to side-step the issue in case someone is coming around the bend with credible evidence that corporal punishment is a beneficial prescription for bad behaviour in children.

The Ministry of Education and the JTA have a guideline stating that corporal punishment should not be "applied in front of other children." This is a successful form of cover-up. The child has no witness on his behalf as to how hard were the licks, or how many hits.

Did the hitting implement, such as a leather belt, stray and hit the child on any part of the body other than the target? What was the child's reaction? Were there any tears? Was the reaction stoic? And, how about the child's reaction days after the hits...was there nervousness? Did the child develop 'tics'? Was the child excessively moody? How long did the physical pain last? How long did the emotional pain last? Did the child become aggressive to others? Did behaviour improve or decline? Did the child's academic performance improve or decline?

Were the parents notified? And what was the overall effect on the child's personality?

Screening children thoroughly would be a monumental task and would require a period of observation lasting perhaps right through their school career. Screening teachers for the mental ability to commit "abuse" would be expensive and time-consuming, and how many teachers would submit to that?

A reasonable background check and restraint placed on teachers by banning all types of physical punishment including hitting, forced exercise, standing for long periods in the sun, and not allowing children to use the bathroom as needed, send a clear message to the teachers that if they resort to any of these methods except in an act of self-defence, they'll be fired.

I am, etc.,

A.M. ANSARI

STOP Corporal

Punishment in Schools, Inc.

P.O. Box 111302

Nashville, Tn 37222

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