Corporal Punishment

Corporal Punishment

In this argument I hope to persuade you that in certain circumstances corporal punishment is a fair and just technique to use in schools, to punish a child. The oxford dictionary defines corporal punishment as the physical punishment of people, especially by hitting or beating them.

Recently at Rimu School a case of serious bad behavior occurred. After school whilst waiting to catch a bus a serious out brake of violence occurred between two boys. One boy Steve was talking to me whilst another approached from behind. I quote the boy Larry who approached when he said, “Steve, where is my lollie?” Steve replied “I didn’t buy you one”. “Well i’m not catching the bus.” Sarcastically Steve replies “yes”. Larry then punches Steve thrice in the stomach knocking Steve’s drink out of his hand in the commotion. Larry fled the scene leaving Steve doubled over in pain. Later that day Larry was called back to school and as a punishment he had to write a formal apology letter, to be presented verbally. I believe the boy should have got the strap to the hand for physically abusing a fellow student. With this punishment Larry would realize the error of his ways. Corporal punishment would have been a much quicker technique, and much more effective.

Another reason why corporal punishment would benefit our schools is that when students misbehave, teachers can threaten to send them to the principals office for the strap. I am not religious myself but to quote the bible “to spoil the rod is to spoil the child.” Right now as I write this there is absolutely nothing to stop me walking out of this classroom. Corporal punishment being threatened would stop this sort of thing, and keep students on task. 

Did you realize that if a student sitting next to you started “beating you up,” the teacher would be helpless to stop it. If this scenario were to occur, wouldn’t you like to know that the teacher could use some means of punishment to stop the attacker. I would personally like to be reassured that is someone started attacking me, the teacher could help me.

Many people who are opposed to corporal punishment will argue that it is cruel, and there are better ways to deal with bad behavior. My belief that only in very severe circumstances corporal punishment should be used to stop a child repeating their actions. For example physical abuse, if a child knowingly and willingly, abuses another child, and all he receives is a formal letter that must be presented to the attacked, what’s to stop them from repeating the same act? Perhaps if corporal punishment was reinstated, students would not physically abuse fellow students, out of pure and utter fair.

To summarize I believe that in extreme circumstances corporal punishment should be used in schools. Every student could work in a more safe, and secure environment. I know I would like to work somewhere safe wouldn’t you? 

By Jack Wellwood.