THE TRADITIONAL AND THE MODERN APPROACH
It was often thought disciplinary action and corporal punishments are synonymous. That is the traditional approach.
Many of this generation have grown under the shadow of corporal punishment. The traditional approach is that only corporal punishment will make any one understand what discipline is all about.
Yet many of the generation that when through corporal punishment do not agree that it is the right approach. The participants on a forum organized by the Solution Exchange Bhutan expressed fervent opposition to corporal punishment and outlined various ways to discipline and punish children in a constructive manner.
Corporal punishment violent and can give children the impression that violence is all right. But where do we clearly define the line between punishment and discipline?
Punishment is a way of telling children what not to do and what not to do. Physical punishment can often be harmful and disrespectful to children. On the other hand, discipline involves providing children with consistent and firm guidance by teaching them and modeling rules.
How do we go about it? Even reprimanding is thought to be not the right approach. Today, we talk of child-friendly approach or a child-friendly school? And of course, child-friendly home?
It has been pointed out children learn better in child-friendly environments where they are not afraid of making mistakes or of being punished. Teachers play a large role in defining the self-esteem and image of students. Students can easily understand and interpret facial expressions, gestures and the tone of the teacher’s voice.
One negative classroom experience is enough to affect a child’s self-image, which can prevent them from participating in classroom activities. An additional recommendation was to include a child psychology module in pre-service and in-service teacher training programmers. Non-academic factors also affect behavior respondents noted.
How do we do it? Are our teachers equipped well enough how to go about it. We are placing our teachers in a dilemma.
As teachers, it is certain that it hurts them more to mete out punishment than the persons who are the recipient of such punishment. But then there is no way out of it. Even the Prime minister himself said that corporal punishments should be given to the erring students. But only one person should do that.
His approach was moderation between those who wanted to continue with the corporal punishment and those who wanted to do away with it.
What are the alternatives to corporal punishment, which parents, teachers and children understand and accept? We talk of providing some sort of training for the teachers to learn these techniques. Do we have the resources and the time?
A good classroom management as an effective alternative is a good suggestion. With more than 50 students in a class, a teacher is not in a position to give even a single minute of attention to a child his/her classroom members. With that scenario in mind, a good class room management is something one can only dream about.
It has always been the practice to appoint bright students to position of responsibility. It is not because teachers don’t want others to shoulder such responsibilities. Of course, we have to provide a chance to learn from the mistakes. We have to make room for a conducive and positive environment for children to learn.
The 13th Annual Education Conference held in January 2010, the ministry of education decided to come forward with school discipline guidelines before the 2010 academic session.
Source: bhutantoday