The Bane of the Cane
Recently, it seems that the physical punishment of school students by their teachers is forbidden. Increasingly, cases like this and this seem to be reported.
Sure, there is a level at which punishment takes on an excessive form and results in abuse, or at least potential abuse. But it does also seem that parents nowadays are protective of their children to an extent that can be quite baffling. They seem to get upset at the slightest stroke of the cane or some other form of physical punishment administered upon their children in school.
Some years ago, I used to hear of such sensitivities in a neighbouring country. But now, I’m hearing of this in my own country. And it somewhat puzzles me.
I’m not saying if this is right or wrong. But it is somewhat alien to me to see things like this bordering on the sensitivities of the people.
As a primary school child, I was caned quite a lot. For one thing, I was terribly naughty. For another thing, my parents gave the school the permission to cane me.
I remember how humiliating it felt to be caned. I was asked to put my two arms on the table so my butt would face upwards. And BAM, three strokes of the cane successively landed on my behind.
When I went home, mum looked at me and said, “You deserved it. Tomorrow, go and apologise to the teacher (who caned you) for being naughty, and thank him for teaching you to be good.” So today I get caned, and tomorrow I still have to go back to apologise for my misbehaviour and thank the teacher for caning me! And that’s exactly what I did.
No complaints. No police reports. No press statements.
So for parents today, I do quite wonder, what’s the deal? Like I said, no value judgement on my part. I'm just quite amused at the sensitivity I'm seeing.
Comments (4)
The mindset of parents these days are different. They are into the positive reinforcement concept and you don't cane or berate or scold to teach a lesson. You stroke, praise and encourage to teach. They believe you cannot teach using the negative approach, they believe a child is best moulded positively.
I used "they" because I don't take that wholesale. I may positively encourage my kid but I still cane when necessary.
But then again, physical punishment is one thing. What I feel more damaging are words, i.e. verbal abuse, and that is not reported, not complaint against, not talked about.
Posted by pearlie | July 26, 2007 9:15 AM
I was looking for this one article I read some time ago and found it! Quite a good read about "How not to talk to your kids, the inverse power of praise":
http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/
Posted by pearlie | July 26, 2007 9:18 AM
on a lighter note, sherman being naughty? haha hard to imagine :P
speaking from someone who studies psychology, the general agreement is that punishment brings about a negative emotional reaction that will 'scar' the children throughout life and a negative association. i think Skinner is one of those who argued for this.
That said, I don't fully agree with the consensus reached by the psychologist as I think a balance should be observed, I do not think abolishing caning is good nor is the excessive use of it.
from my personal observation, most Asian or at least Chinese parents cane their children excessively and the fragility of the children at their current age caused them to be very docile and very much a conformist living in fear
therefore, perhaps the reaction of the media is merely a reaction, being aware of the negative consequences, and adopting the Western mindset wholesale without regard for the negative consequences of it and the cultural context that we live in, of which caning is viewed as sometimes necessary
and yes, the whole media frenzy over caning is totally silly and unnecessary, it distracts and put the teachers in a very difficult position. all they do now is to do the very little as they are afraid of 'educating' children which involves punishment as well
Posted by doulos | July 26, 2007 2:41 PM
Well, I believe some people never got over their caning or may have never experienced(?) proper discipline, or have experience discipline done in the wrong way, so much so that as they grow up and become parents, they worry too much that the same will happen to their kids, till they forget about the realities of the consequences.
Posted by sam | July 27, 2007 4:50 PM