I hope it's not too late for me to zero in, endorse and congratulate Mr Norman Edmonson for writing such a very important article, titled: "Corporal punishment is not abuse", which was published in the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.
He raised some vital points concerning the classroom. He said:
"I am flabbergasted that the Ministry of Education would even have considered ending corporal punishment, especially in a nation that has a crime epidemic." He went on to ask: "Do we not know that the removal of corporal punishment is a significant contributor to the increase in criminal activity across the country?"
Well said, Mr Edmonson.
What does this quotation from the Bible — "Don't spare the rod and spoil the child"— mean to you? Some people say that using the whip is not the right policy in disciplining or punishing unruly children.
However, in my opinion, one of the quickest and surest ways to get their attention when they are misbehaving is to unleash the rod of correction, which is the hottest and most bitter part of the scourging.
On the other hand, it seems to me that the days of corporal punishment are over. In days gone by, it was rampant in most, if not all schools. And it really worked in helping to ease the pressure and burden of the teachers.
And, during those days, when teachers used the belt to discipline ill-mannered or presumptuous 'schoolers', they very seldom retaliated, as the current students now do.
Furthermore, I believe that one of the reasons why corporal punishment is being removed from the classroom is because of fear — fear of being attacked, fear of threats and tongue-lashings from students and their parents. Teachers are up against a new age of trepidation and intimidation — which is a daily menu in the classroom because of the different classes and attitudes of these modern-day pupils.
So, then, with the removal from the classroom of corporal punishment, the most vital remedy, which can and will bring defiant, aggressive and violent students to submission, the question is: Where do we go from here?
I think that the government should do all it can to bring back corporal punishment to the classroom.
DONALD J MCKOY
Email: donaldmckoy2010@yahoo.com
He raised some vital points concerning the classroom. He said:
"I am flabbergasted that the Ministry of Education would even have considered ending corporal punishment, especially in a nation that has a crime epidemic." He went on to ask: "Do we not know that the removal of corporal punishment is a significant contributor to the increase in criminal activity across the country?"
Well said, Mr Edmonson.
What does this quotation from the Bible — "Don't spare the rod and spoil the child"— mean to you? Some people say that using the whip is not the right policy in disciplining or punishing unruly children.
However, in my opinion, one of the quickest and surest ways to get their attention when they are misbehaving is to unleash the rod of correction, which is the hottest and most bitter part of the scourging.
On the other hand, it seems to me that the days of corporal punishment are over. In days gone by, it was rampant in most, if not all schools. And it really worked in helping to ease the pressure and burden of the teachers.
And, during those days, when teachers used the belt to discipline ill-mannered or presumptuous 'schoolers', they very seldom retaliated, as the current students now do.
Furthermore, I believe that one of the reasons why corporal punishment is being removed from the classroom is because of fear — fear of being attacked, fear of threats and tongue-lashings from students and their parents. Teachers are up against a new age of trepidation and intimidation — which is a daily menu in the classroom because of the different classes and attitudes of these modern-day pupils.
So, then, with the removal from the classroom of corporal punishment, the most vital remedy, which can and will bring defiant, aggressive and violent students to submission, the question is: Where do we go from here?
I think that the government should do all it can to bring back corporal punishment to the classroom.
DONALD J MCKOY
Email: donaldmckoy2010@yahoo.com