BLOWS IN THE SCHOOL

LICKS and blows, blows. Take datYuh too bad! This is not a take off or take down of show-stealing comedy farce stolen by local comedians from the movie Matrix off-load or down load or just a whole lot of load.

This is just an introspective look at the real life scenario being enacted in the debate and debunking related to beat or not to beat schoolchildren as a measure of discipline. Pro-beaters, all presumably adults, are adamant and convinced that a good cut-tail is necessary to curb the vicious and annoying tendencies of the little brats. The anti-flogging advocates view beatings as another form of violence being inflicted on youths in an already overburdened violent community. They preach love and understanding as alternative methods and antidotes especially by doting parents and guardians.  A loosely self-righteous stance is used to show that a little flogging was not really bad and boasts, “Look what it did for me.” They totally ignore that beatings did not change the still existent societal village-ram syndrome (not even tempered by death-dealing AIDS) that has spawned absentee fathers and single mothers with multiple-sired children.

It was a free-for-all when it came to licks in the good old bad days. Uncle, nennen, godparents even the neighborhood loafer had free rein to administer a clout or two ostensibly to put erring youngsters back in line. It was a near-fatal mistake to complain to your parents as you were subjected to a fresh bout of blows alias body music. This probably fitted in with the concept it takes a village to raise a child. Does it follow that while it will take a village or community to rear a child that they must also beat up on his rear. This communal spirit advocated in specific environments  also invoked that it takes a village or posse of missile-throwing  folks to stone errant inhabitants to death. Barbarism to the bone. So if flogging in schools is again to be implemented who is to administer the the beating known as corporal punishment? Should a  medical file be kept on and regularly updated to determine whether the student is fit enough to be beaten? Should there be a designated whipper assigned to the school. Why teachers? They have their hands filled trying to open up and train the minds of the youngsters. Chalk and other teaching tools should be their weapons to motivate, not whips for flogging. Since it is corporal punishment it might well be carried out by the Police or members of the Defence Force who are trained to inflict pain even in self defence. Police personnel are in tune and up-to-date in administering body blows on unarmed disabled citizens who dared to protest, seeking jobs and amenities.  

Indiscipline in school is wide ranging and often involves teacher/student confrontation. So beating by teachers may be interpreted as vengeance and setting up the teachers to be seen by students as enemies and villains. Violent episodes in schools have taken a frightening turn from  the era of fist fights over marbles and games to gunplay linked to in-house drug dealing and sexual partnerships. Infrequent pen knife and razor blade woundings of the past have catapulted to firearms, mace and cutlass action. Teachers are now in a combative zone charging parents/guardians  with non-cooperation and lack of response in dealing with bad behaviour and sub-standard academic work. Parents strike back blaming teachers for neglecting students through frequent absenteeism, intolerance and non-exemplary  behaviour. Sociological changes in the school and family life practices have presented a completely new environment in the educational system. Teaching has become a high-risk occupation under siege by bad boys and rude girls and warlike parents. It is a tough stressful job to carry out their regular tasks in schools resembling fortresses loosely protected by non-alert security guards. So sensibly, teachers should not be burdened further to deliver blows in the name of discipline. Teachers are term arrangers and trainers not TERMINATORS.

Field of challenge for teachers embraces reading, writing, counting, spelling and biology not wielding canes and straps on anatomies. There should be no beating around the bush. But that is exactly the stance adopted by the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) or at least that of president Trevor  Oliver. Oliver is reported as saying: “We are not either corporal or non-corporal and I do not want to get into a controversy about the issue.” He added: “We are not pro or anti corporal punishment. We are humanistic, rehabilitative and holistic.” This ambivalence can create problems and uneasiness for TTUTA if flogging is reintroduced in the school system.  Who would be qualified to inflict beatings on a structured basis? Will the beating strategy be reinforced by proper training of principals, deans of disciplines and potential beaters among teachers? TTUTA may well be forced to negotiate a special compensation package for designated whippers. Will ability and willingness to flog be included in the job specification for teachers? This raises another issue on whether or not a teacher can be or should be disciplined for refusing to administer blows on a student.  Trying to work out the genesis for violent behaviour in educational institutions and schools? They should look back to the Black Power days of the 1970s when rebellious Trinidad and Caribbean students went on a rampage at the Sir George William University in Canada. Several of  the rebels entered the local teaching service and should be able to give an insight into the problem from a personal point of view. Sparing  the rod may not guarantee to spoil the child. What is certain is that with or without licks indiscipline has become rife in schools. So spare the teachers from using the rod.