Many across the world still don’t believe in sparing the rod when it comes to disciplining children. Many cultures still adhere to hitting, slapping and kicking children as part of their silent societal code. Others have tried to give up on this practice by cultivating a friendly and nurturing attitude as parents at home. Some educationists now firmly reject the theory of the ‘rod’ and run their schools with firm rules that the child will not be hit by a teacher. Yet, the practice continues unabated both at home and in educational institutions without fear of reprisal or understanding of the damage being done to the delicate psyche of an innocent and helpless child.
A young colleague of mine at the Institute of Education, University of London, recounted his experiences at his school, Government Primary School No. 5, Raja Park, Toba Tek Singh. In his words, “The school employed two teachers, Master Kaleem, famous among students for his strict punishments (especially, lathi charging and creative abuses) and Master Maqbool who was renowned for fisting and slapping. Twice a year when the inspectors came around, all sticks were removed as officially, physical punishment was not allowed. Those who could not perform in front of the examination committee were atrociously punished soon after they had left and after such drastic punishment, for the next few days fear hovered over the school which went back to normal business after 10 to 15 days.”
The narration continues with “Physical punishment was not new for me at high school but a change in environment made life easier as some teachers there motivated me with their humour and friendly behavior. If there was ever a chance for discussion, majority of students were afraid to express themselves and always felt tongue tied, except for those few whose personalities had been groomed at home by their parents. Going to school for me had never been fun and from my first to last day at high school, I looked forward to the day when I would enter college where it was said students were not punished at all, and study is more student-led than teacher-led.”
Thus, my young colleague barely in his mid twenties, had come on a scholarship to the Institute for Computer Studies and despite his setbacks in his early education had persisted in reaching his potential for further studies. However, in conclusion to this piece, he sums up the devastating effect that corporal punishment had left on his personality. I quote again, “I would blame my schooling for replacing my sense of responsibility, motivation and curiosity of exploration with sense of fear of punishment that made me sick of books and the educational environment. For me my failure never meant that I am not able to study at all, but an inferiority complex that always occupied my mind. Teachers’ rude and discouraging behaviour crushed my personality. Self expression became a life time problem for me, and my God gifted qualities that were never polished or encouraged were depressed.”
This heart rending account may be the story of millions of others who face fear of punishment when going to school. This culture has not abated to date as teachers often resort to slapping on the face and hitting a child on the shoulder or back. Even the best of schools in the private sector have incidents of physical punishment being reported to the administration of such schools. Yet, many reading this piece will be reminded of and identify themselves with similar experiences in their schooling.
Research by psychologists the world over has revealed the extreme damaging effects of corporal punishment on young children’s minds and hearts. Even abusive parents who also believe in the culture of hitting a child to punish them do not realise the long term implications of the psychological damage they do to their own flesh and blood. The feelings of anger, frustration, helplessness and humiliation are never addressed even when these children reach adulthood. It becomes a lifetime burden for them to carry this load of disrespect shown to them as children when nurturing and caring with love and affection should have been the norm rather than disciplining with the ‘rod’.
With the many ills plaguing our education system in Pakistan, corporal punishment is one factor that has to be redressed by legislation as teachers and those administrating schools are unable to combat this issue. Time and again with no formal training of teachers in educational psychology, the spectre of corporal punishment continues to raise its head and children continue to suffer this ignominious treatment. Quality of education is also receiving a constant setback as millions in Pakistan never see the inside of a school in their lifetime and those who do are disheartened and drop out at an alarming rate. Needless to say that with ignorance and illiteracy, Pakistan cannot develop economically and provide a good life to its people.
The Pakistan Human Rights Commission using statistical data has quoted the high incidence of corporal punishment in schools as the primary reason for the high dropout rate from schools. The time is now to overhaul the education system and priority number one is to remove the fear of corporal punishment forever from the minds of those who do manage to come to school to educate themselves.
The writer is an educational consultant based in Lahore.
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