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Handle them with kid gloves

Spanking has long-term consequences such as depression when the child grows into an adult

PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

WE SEEK LOVE AND AFFECTION Teachers should understand their feelings.

A Std. IX boy of a school in Butchirajupalem committed suicide recently by consuming pesticide as his teacher chided him for not paying the school fee. The boy's father, a poor fishermen, failed to pay the school fee for several months.

The poor boy must have felt slighted at being pulled up by the teacher in front of his classmates, and a kind of helplessness at the inability of his father to pay the fee.

There are several other cases of children taking the extreme step after being punished by their teachers for various reasons. Incidents of this kind are on the increase as corporal punishment goes on unabated despite a law banning it coming into affect way back in 2002.

Some school managements, in their anxiety to secure ranks in board examinations, are subjecting their students to a lot of stress, punishing them physically or verbally and grilling them day in and day out to make them pass out the 7th Class Common Examination and SSC Examinations with flying colours. There are others who telephone the homes of their Std. X pupils at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. to ensure that they have begun their brush with their books. This is not to say that students of lower classes are spared.

A study conducted by B. Devi Prasad of the Social Work Department of Andhra University, for Child Rights Advocacy Foundation (CRAF), Vijayawada, in collaboration with People's Action for Rural Development (PARD) has revealed startling facts.

The study covered 592 pupils of Std. VI to X studying in government, urban and municipal corporation schools in seven districts in the State.

Corporal punishment practiced in its more severe forms has emotional and social consequences on the child. It could lead to fear, hatred and anger among children towards adults and persons in authority in society and may affect their academic performance. In the long run children might tend to believe that it's good to use violence as a method of conflict resolution. Spanking has long-term consequences such as depression when the child grows into an adult.

A majority of the children felt that corporal punishment did not contribute to learning in any manner. However, there were some who felt that punishment was necessary to make them realize their mistakes.

The findings of the study reveal that corporal punishment of children by teachers in schools and by parents at home is widespread. While 81 per cent of the children surveyed said that their teachers punished them at one time or the other, 66 per cent said that their parents punished them at home.

The various types of punishments given to children included: hitting on the palm with cane, making them kneel down or keep them in uncomfortable position for a long time, slapping, pinching, twisting ears, scolding or using abusive language against them, sending them out of the class or make them to stand in sunlight, making them to run around the playground or make them clean the ground, bending fingers, hitting on the heads and threatening to issue TC.

The data revealed that a majority of children keep the pain and miserable feelings to themselves for fear of punishment again from their parents.

Even if the child reports, it was found that parents often refrain from taking action in the matter for various reasons. It was also found that children in the younger age group are punished more often, boys are often spanked while girls are given emotional punishments.

While male teachers give more physical punishments their female counterparts resort to more verbal abuse.

Students were punished because they did not do home work, came late to the school, poor academic performance, irregular attendance, did not wear uniform or did not pay school fees.

Children from lower income groups and weaker sections, who attend government schools, often become the target of their teachers. The children coming from poor households study under a lot of constraints such as lack of time for study in view of the need to attend to domestic chores, lack of conveyance to reach school in time, lack of tutorial support or support from an educated parent who can help them with their home work.

Interestingly, the respondents expressed the view that if teachers were to teach without giving punishments to them, they should teach well, understand their feelings, show love and affection and act like a guide and philosopher.

They also gave some dos and don'ts for teachers which will be useful for sensitising teachers.

The data from Focussed Group Discussions (FGD s) suggested bringing reforms in the curriculum, avoiding discrimination on the basis of academic performance, being sensitive to the student's background and encouraging feedback from students.

"It is time for the Government to initiate steps to constitute Child Rights Protection Cells in Schools (CRPC' s) in schools in view of the incidence of corporal punishment despite the ban imposed by the State Government," says Prof. Devi Prasad.

The CRPC' s may include the headmaster as convener, an elected student representative or a meritorious student from Std. IX or Std. X, teachers who are child friendly and parents. The cell should be situated in the school campus in such a way that it's accessible to students and parents.

The schools should be encouraged to declare in their prospectus that their school is `corporal punishment-free' institute to encourage better compliance on the part of managements. Awareness campaigns and sensitisation programmes need to be targeted towards teachers, children, parents, school managements and the community at large.

The adage `Spare the rod and spoil the childhood' should be redefined as `Spare the rod save the childhood' feels Prof. Devi Prasad.

Dos and Don'ts

Do

Understand child's
feelings
Be a guide and
philosopher
Clarify doubts
Be impartial
Pay attention to slow
learners
Make classrooms attractive
and lively
Be regular to parentteacher
interactions Be responsible and correct
notes regularly

Don'ts

Do not humiliate children
Do not adopt partisan attitude
Do not give more homework
Do not scold or beat
Do not punish without proper reason

B. MADHU GOPAL

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