Corporal punishment to children owes its roots to ignorance
Tuesday, 20 January 2015
It is sad that after four decades of independence there is still a need for a campaign to abolish corporal punishment from our schools.
What is wrong with our school system? What is wrong with our teachers? Indeed, what is wrong with a society that allows its future to be mercilessly beaten at the whims of a teacher? We whole-heartedly agree with Sir Frank Peters when he says, 'the damaged children of today are the broken adults of tomorrow'.
Corporal punishment to children owes its roots to ignorance. It's the curse that's been handed down from generation to generation without any break. We never pause for a while and ponder over to find a way to discipline a child.
Those who reposed their faith in the old adage 'spare the rod and spoil the child' for justification of their despicable behaviour towards the weakest and most vulnerable members of a society, have been proved wrong.
As Sir Frank points out, in Hebrew the word "rod" is the same word used in Psalms 23:4, 'thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.' The shepherd's rod/staff is his tool to encourage, guide, and discipline the sheep towards taking a desired direction, not to beat, hurt or damage them.
If we want to build a society where we shall be able to enjoy our old age, it's best we begin now. Teachers who give children corporal punishment, should be fired, jailed or both so that we can all have a joyful future.
Dr. Raju Sattar and family
Farmgate, Dhaka.
dr.raju.sattar@yandex.com