Disciplining our Children

Since the exchange in the House of Representatives between a former minister of education and the current minister, the issue of corporal punishment has taken center stage in the national discourse.  Strangely, the comments by former education minister the Hon. Cordel Hyde were not specifically about the merits and demerits of corporal punishment, but more about procedure and the handling of the proposed legislation on the Education and Training Bill (2009).

Perhaps the discussion is focused mainly on corporal punishment because most Belizeans still haven’t seen the legislation, especially the 5000 teachers, which is exactly the Hon. Cordel Hyde’s point.    What would have been bad about giving the teachers time to study the 75 new amendments to the legislation?

The discussion over corporal punishment is only one aspect of the 2009 Education Bill and while it is an important issue, there are other aspects of the legislation that should also result in serious discussion.

As to whether schools should do away with corporal punishment, the argument is pretty much like the abortion issue, people have strong feelings either way.  Those who support corporal punishment reach as far back as those biblical expressions about sparing the rod and spoiling the child to support their points of view.  Those in opposition, like Minister Faber, believe that alternative methods of punishment are better.

Whatever the position, the reality is that as a nation Belize signed on to international conventions which call for the removal of corporal punishment from schools.  Whenever corporal punishment is issued in any Belizean school, it is a violation of our treaty obligation.

Some will quickly argue so what, every day in Belize people break laws with impunity.  A recent example of this is the severe beating of a 16 year old boy by two adults, one a doctor, who so badly brutalized the boy that he had to be out of school for two weeks.  There is still no arrest in this case and many believe it is because of Doctor John Gough’s political connections.

Of course when people break rules or for that matter the law and there is no consequences, then the system breaks down.

In the case of the nation’s schools, the teachers have a point.  The responsibility to set the terms and conditions of what is appropriate learning for our children rests with the Ministry of Education.  Since school discipline is an integral part of education, it is for the Ministry to determine what methods of discipline are appropriate.

In carrying out its functions in the name of the state and on behalf of the people, the Ministry of Education must ensure that school managers put in place the kinds of systems that bring out the best in their teachers.  When this occurs, teachers will in turn bring out the best in their students.

Teachers who possess a passion for teaching try to develop students who are compassionate, responsible, always improving their skills. They develop students who long for knowledge and who are independent thinkers.  These are values that build character, but instilling these values should not start in the classroom, they should start in the home.

What this means is that for Belizean children to develop into law abiding citizens, contributing to the growth and development of the nation, parents and teachers must work together.  It also means that teacher training and support, together with community and parental involvement must be an integral part of the education system.  No teacher should be allowed into a classroom without some training in classroom techniques.  Equally important, no parent should leave their child in the care of a teacher they haven’t met personally.

Meaningful education is the total development of a student.  To develop each human being requires knowledge.  Discipline is a branch of knowledge.   Through discipline students learns self-control, efficiency and orderliness; they learn the rules.  Discipline is also about control and punishment.

In any good learning institution, educators want their students to behave not because they are afraid of them, but because they respect their authority and want to be a part of the process of learning and growing.

School psychologists often say that teachers run into trouble with discipline when they fail to understand the difference between preventative and punitive discipline.  Often the latter comes too late.

Social habits such as punctuality, courtesy, good manners, and cleanliness are all a part of good discipline; they are preventative measures and must be taught at home and carried over in schools.

Where institutions couple these social habits as a part of the daily routine with clean classrooms, proper playgrounds, adequate ventilation, proper space and respectful teachers and administrators, punitive measures are far less required then in schools where these characteristics are absent.

For us to do right by the children of Belize, we must put this all in perspective.  It is important to appreciate that children learn best by watching how adults live and manage the day to day challenges of life.  When we do the right things, the issue of whether or not to whip, lash, beat, scream at a child, suspend, expel or try them in court as adults will make this issue of corporal punishment inconsequential.

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