By Ranjabati Ray
Ever took notice of the complaints regarding corporal punishment or the physical punishments, which your children must have been doing? What is it?
To put it simply, it means causing the child intentional pain and discomfort in response to his behavior which is considered incorrect or unexpected by the society.
Apart from the legal aspect corporal punishment is also not a psychologically corrective measure for students. Do you think that corporal punishment is the correct way out to inculcate obedience in children? There are various other acceptable means which can be used as a recourse to inculcate discipline in young kids.
Discipline in life is an indispensable part of a normal personality. A school is the place where the foundation of a disciplined life is laid down.
Did you ever take notice of the fact as to how do school going children in the age group of 6 to 16 years feel? They have to regularly face wide ranging influence in the form of television, advertisements, breakdown of joint family system, working parents etc.
So, if they are treated in such a manner in school, they will be left with nothing good to look forward to. They will start feeling ‘lonely’ and become ‘hollow’ on the inside, a hollow shell of their formal selves. You won’t be able to trace back the child within him again.
They need love and care from loving teachers. They are in search of affection. These children are amenable to the advice given to them in a loving and caring manner.
The harsh truth is that it pays to spare a rod. It is not an easy task. So, first of all the teachers should be equipped to handle students with ‘care’. Counseling is the best part of this kind of a corrective measure.
Now, however, the government may have a ban on corporal punishment but the practice of corporal punishment is still prevailing.
The fact is that no action is taken against the erring teachers because especially in the Indian society it is considered and age-old treatment method. Otherwise how else can one account for the reports of ripped ears, damaged eardrums, broken knuckles, bruised organs and sometimes even death?
The ultimate truth is that the concept of corporal punishment is deeply rooted in the psyche of Indian teachers.
A slap for a 10th or a 12th standard child is not just a slap, it is a mark on his character which gives ammunition to his friends to laugh at. Unable to show resentment his confidence is dented.
The slander sticks on him like a mud.
The law is quite clear on the issue of corporal punishment. Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 also declared corporal punishment illegal in schools.
Is imposing a ban on corporal punishments enough? Does this solve the whole purpose? Have you ever thought that apart from corporal punishments there are other ways also to anguish a child?
What about the phase of mental torture or suffering, which a teacher compels a child to through, in lieu of the corporal punishment. Using abusive language, shouting at him, being vindictive and partial, taking out your anger on the child’s mark sheet; what about a bar on this?
Hasn’t this perspective being taken account of? What impact does it leaves on the child? What about his self confidence and moral?
The end result is ultimately the same; they become ‘hollow’ on the inside. Or sometimes these cases often results in student suicide. Who is responsible for this? Is it the teachers or YOU?
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