In recent times, the age old debate of corporal punishment in schools in India has resurfaced and there have been a spate of suicides and suicide threats among students. Many students are turning to drastic steps, as schools are continuing to give out harsh punishments and in some cases even brutal punishments.
The suicide of Rouvanjit Rawal, a 12 year old boy from one of the foremost schools in the city of Kolkata, has shocked the city. The suicide was a direct consequence of caning by the headmaster and the man was cited as saying that he was unaware that caning was illegal in the country.
The type of corporate punishment in schools in India that is administered depends on the culture of the school and the different types of common corporal punishments are as follows:
Caning
Caning children using a wooden cane is the most common method of corporal punishment in schools in India. Teachers and headmasters alike engage in caning and this can be a humiliating experience for a child, especially if it is done in front of other children, particularly in front of members of the opposite sex. Persistent caning can leave marks on the skin and can cause blistering. Parents must be aware of such happenings and take action immediately. Many parents condone these types of punishments and this is the primary reason many schools are still engaging in it.
Slapping
Slapping the child’s face using an open palm is another form of common punishment in schools in India and this can be a source of immense embarrassment for the children. This is generally done by teachers. Children who cry easily can burst into tears in front their peers and situations like these can also lead to suicides.
Kneeling Down
Kneeling down in the playground or a common area is particularly common in the southern parts of the country. Younger children are often left exhausted by these punishments and their knees can become bruised and swollen. Young children often develop hatred towards the school and also towards the particular teacher and they may want to stop studying in that particular school.
Alternatives To Corporal Punishment
Most of the corporal punishments that are administered result in some minor injury and they have dire psychological effects. Corporal punishment in schools is a source of shame and embarrassment and it may also be described as a form of mental torture. Young children are very impressionable and the humiliation can lead to them taking drastic measures.
There are a few alternatives that schools can try and many of these have been proved to work successfully in western countries. Detentions and chores are the main forms of non physical punishment. Detentions can be used to help the child spend some more time with the teacher in the form of extra tuition and they help in learning and also serve as a form of punishment. Counseling, verbal reprimanding, mentoring, isolation and withdrawing privileges are also other forms of punishment that can be tried in Indian schools.
If your child’s behavior has suddenly changed, you could try and ask him/her if they’ve been put through a “punishment” in school and to describe the punishment. As a parent it becomes important to gauge what exactly your child is going through when they are vulnerable and stand by their side.
