PEOPLE FORM A SOCIETY. All of these people were once children. Therefore, it can be argued that children form a society. But we do not really place that responsibility on the child until he is deemed to have become an adult.
We can often see the physical difference between a child and an adult and we can also sense the mental difference. But that difference is not evident in every aspect of life.
For instance, it is expected that a child will try to get away with whatever it can get away with. This child would have been doing it for years. In some countries, you become an adult at 18 years old and other countries at 21.
Now, what happens so miraculously at one minute after midnight when you become 18 or 21 years old that would change a practice that you have been displaying for 16 to 19 years – especially one that you were getting away with?
In this particular aspect of life, there is no difference between a man and a child. Because of this logical deduction, it can therefore be concluded that an adult – just like a child – will try to get away with what he can get away with. So is the nature of the beast.
With this logical process in mind, it would be prudent, and imperatively so, for children to be prepared from an extremely early age with as many of the behavioural practices as possible that are expected of adults. This conditioning should start with the disciplining of the child.
If when, at two years old, the parent “taps” the child for an undesired behaviour, the child will associate the “sting” with the act. At that time, the “sting” becomes a deterrent and the child more than likely will not commit the same act in the near future.
However, if the child does it again at any time, the parent should “tap” again in order to reinforce the act as undesirable. If the parent does not reinforce the fact that that particular behaviour will not be tolerated, it then confuses the child.
The child, reasoning in its own limited capacity, would conclude thus: “Last time I did that I got an unpleasant feeling but this time nothing happened. Then, this can’t be no big thing. She now confuse the hell outa me. Maybe I should try it again and see what happen.” And now the parent decides that the child “hard ears”.
If the parent had reinforced at the appropriate time, the child would more than likely have reasoned: “You, I forget that last time I did that I got a tap. I done wid dat, bosie.” And this constant reminder must take place every time, whether it be verbal or a “tap”. It is simply “conditioning”.
It is necessary for the parents to be consistent in their corrections. Children will pick up the inconsistencies and exploit them. The older the child gets, the more skilful the exploitation will be executed.
You would have noticed that I did not use the word “beat”. This is so because I believe that if you were to “tap” from early, you would not have to “beat” at all for the lesson would have been learnt. But the same logic would have to apply if you fail to “tap” and then be forced to “beat”. At the time, just as “tap” should eliminate “beat”, “beat” should eliminate “jail”.
It amazes me how some people complain about corporal punishment at 12 and 13 years of age but then advocate “jail” at 18. Have you ever thought that if you had instituted corporal punishment at that earlier age, you might have avoided jail?
And then, some of those people who advocate against corporal punishment, are heard calling for the “cat” when the offender is in jail. Is not the “cat” a form of flogging? And is flogging not corporal punishment? But surely the “cat” is the most vicious form of any punishment that there is. What irony!
Amidst all the talk about the fears and dangers of corporal punishment, we should be cognisant of the fact that most of these studies would have been done on folks who did not have the same conditioning as us black people who would have endured slavery. The psychological effects of slavery must not be taken lightly.
When William Lynch delivered his “slave conditioning” speech to the southern slave owners in the United States in 1712, he stated that “if installed correctly, it will control the slaves for at least 300 years”. The year 2012 was 300 years.
He also stated that the indoctrinations shall carry on and become self-refuelling and self-generating for thousands of years.
• Mac Fingall is an entertainer and retired secondary schoolteacher. Email [email protected].
