Corporal Punishments in Schools

School Corporal punishment can be simply described as causing deliberate pain or discomfort in response to undesired behavior by students in school either by striking the student across the buttocks, hands or body using a rattan cane, slippers or leather straps; or less commonly it could also include spanking or smacking with open hand.

 This practice was practiced all over the world ages ago in the name of discipline but it has been gradually outlawed in almost all developed countries because it was strongly opposed by medical and psychological societies, along with human rights groups who argue that physical punishment is ineffective in the long term, interferes with learning, leads to antisocial behavior and mental distress. Also its considered a form of violence that breaches children's rights. (Wikipedia).

This article is narrowed down to our Nigerian system. We grew up thinking this is normal because it happens all around us. In fact, some students are flogged so bad that the have bruises all over their bodies and nothing is done about it, we call it discipline. Again, being a very religious country, its prolly going to be here for a long time because it has a religious backing. There is part of the Christian bible which states "Spare the rod, and Spoil the child". This seems to be the highest justification to this act.

Most kids in Nigeria grew up being flogged almost every week, while some were corrected and grew up to become better people, a lot of others could not be controlled. They were flogged so much that they were no longer afraid of anything so the rebel and do whatever pleased them. Some begin to skip school because they don't want to be punished till they eventually drop out.They join terrible gangs and end up worse off.

Kids and teenagers are probably the worst set of people to deal with but I believe there should be other forms of punishments other than flogging them like cows and leaving terrible scars on them.

I saw a video of an American teenage girl sometime ago being dragged off a classroom by a full grown police officer and the world went crazy over this video because it involved a white man and a black teen, a lot of Nigerians including me complained so bitterly only for another video to surface online today of an adult male teacher beating up a female student and I was surprised to see the reactions on Nigerian media. A lot of people blamed the girl, they said things like "from this video its obvious this girl is sturbbon and rude"  "she has the guts to drag the cane with teacher" "When we were in school, its was normal". Though some people kicked against it but the negative comments were just too much.

I am of the opinion that Corporal punishment should be discontinued, because it does more harm than good. Some people might disagree but that's ok. I hope that this will become a reality in Nigeria some day soon. Also, evidence has showed  no reported increase in disciplinary problems in schools following the elimination of corporal punishment.