"Corporal punishment is as humiliating for him who gives it as for him who receives it; it is ineffective besides. Neither shame nor physical pain have any other effect than hardening one"
Ellen Key
"I doubt whether classical education ever has been or can be successfully carried out without corporal punishment."
George Orwell
Corporal punishment has been one of the most debated subjects and has stayed so over the years. It is a form of punishment intended to cause physical pain on a person. This can be by flogging or canning.
Many counters the entire idea like one of the populous advocate of child-centered education, Ellen Key did, while others simply queue behind the infamous author of "Animal farm", George Orwell to support it. Well, personally, I'll love to sit on the fence, because, one major error of our time is throwing a child out with the bathwater.
Growing up, my mother beat me most of the times I was wrong; oftenly with belts, sticks, slippers, etc. I felt abused but now I understand better. I understand now that it was right for that time to be who I should be/I am now.
A verse of the bible says "those who spare the rod hate their children, but those who love them are dilligent to discipline them."
What really is discipline? It is the practice of training people to obey rules or code of behaviour, using punishment to correct disobedience says Oxford dictionary.
Of a truth, a child can act very foolish sometimes. This may not be entirely his fault, for with age comes wisdom. But before a child grows to a wise chap, is it healthy to leave him to himself? It is important to catch a child early, direct him in the way he should go so that he treads that path as he ages.
This can be corroborated by another biblical verse which says "foolishness is bound in the heart of the child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him."
There is a joint to ponder upon, an average child stays with his teacher 6 to 8 hours daily and with his parents about 5 hours before going to bed. It is then obvious that the teachers in school have a large part to play in disciplining a child. Going by the justification that a child is a bag of foolishness, one then wonders how he can get all the doses of discipline needed to grow well from the parents who in worst cases may be too career driven to cater well for them.
Two things must be in place while administering corporal punishment: Humanity and Moderation. These I think had been what is lacking which if put in place, the consequences of excessively punishing a child in the name of disciplining him will be curbed.
In conclusion, who we are is who we were made to be!
© Ben James
#ANSANonfictionWriterOfTheWeek
Noted. Thank you sir.