Blending punishment and correction

ABOLISHING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT without replacing it with an equally or more effective measure is not good management. Teachers have requested an effective solution for disruptive students.

How do we solve the problem caused by a minority of offenders who repeatedly disrupt the majority of students from learning?

Suspending the student appearsto be a vindictive and long-lasting punishment. It not only cripples the student’s ability to learn the more advanced material that was founded on understanding the missed information, but almost guarantees the likelihood of repeat offences and low grades from the frustrated student. This ineffective option should be used sparingly and only as a last resort for violent offenders.

Rehabilitation

Violent and rude students need both punishment and correction. The punishment should be short and the rehabilitation should be effective. Corporal punishment is relatively short. It may not correct the behaviour of one intent on mischief. However, its threat may deter the majority. Therefore, corporal punishment should remain as a punishment option and for its inherent threat value.

The main problem with corporal punishment is that some parents are against its use, and view the punishment of their children as their responsibility. This view must be respected. However, the views of those who have no problem with corporal punishment must also be respected. Therefore, in order to accommodate both views, the following method is proposed.

Those parents who want to discipline their children should inform the school of their choice. If their child misbehaves, then the school should notify the parent, who should immediately collect the child, and return the child after punishment has been carried out. For all other students, the principal should determine and carry out the punishment.

Corrective measures

Correcting the child’s offending behaviour is a separate issue. Punishment may correct delinquent behaviour. However, separate corrective measures may be necessary for the child who is intent on mischief. Therefore, on the second offence, the child must visit the Geriatric Hospital to care for the elderly as directed by the nurses on duty. The visit must last at least one hour after school each week-day, for a duration of at least two weeks.

Care can be defined very broadly depending on the age of the offender. Young offenders canspend the hour reading to sight or memory-impaired residents, while older offenders can also assist with feeding and physical exercise. After two weeks, the students should learn compassion and some of our collective wisdom, while our elderly may appreciate interacting with our children.

Students may not be allowed back to school unless they have a note, signed by the duty nurse, confirming their attendance the previous day. This should ensure the parents’ cooperation.

This initiative can be expanded to include every juvenile offender residing at the Government Industrial Schools. Not punishing violent or rude offenders, and punishment without correction are both short-sighted measures that can be easily and economically addressed.

– GRENVILLE PHILLIPS II, founder of Barbados’ newest political party, Solutions Barbados.