Ban on Corporal Punishment in Bhutanese schools – is it a tall order?

Teaching in the Bhutanese classrooms are not the same today in an ever complex teaching - learning environment. Almost suddenly, the society demands the “elusive” quality education. On the other hand classrooms have become cramped. Teaching, suddenly is not a one way communication where teachers are knowledge “giver” and students knowledge “receiver”.
 On the other hand both parties do not know how to assume the new roles.  Teachers are devolved the role of parents at school. On the other hand the love and piety that binds parents and children is often betrayed. At the heart of these complexities are the student and the teacher in a classroom full of students, teaching and learning day to day all the year round and repeating the next year.

In the almost mundane affairs of things, often times, there are stressful moments. Often the teacher gives in. A student is spanked. The motive is to right the wrong. Fast and effective. Sometimes, the spanking becomes brutal and abusive. The motive is no more honorable. Often the student gives in. The teacher is threatened. Insulted. Verbally abused. The motive is to gain attention. Rebel and often become the class “hero”. Sometimes the teacher is punched in the face in the cover of the dark. The motive is then ugly and evil. In the midst of these happenings is the ban on corporal punishment in schools. Teachers are deprived the familiar tool to discipline students. No new tools are provided. Students feel released from a tether. To be free is to be irresponsible.

Corporal punishment in Bhutanese schools has been an accepted part of school, historically. Often it has been thought of as an effective learning facilitator. Even today, some parents request the schools to use it to discipline their children.  Some experts even believe that corporal punishment can be an effective and non injurious technique of teaching and discipline. Children can be better controlled; they learn greater appreciation for authority; develop better social skills and improve moral character. Moreover, this group of experts believes that in the absence of alternative disciplinary measures in the schools, judicious use of corporal punishment is the only practical method to discipline students. Therefore, if corporal punishment is banned without the alternative system, process and practice in place, it would create greater disciplinary difficulty in the schools.

Corporal punishment in schools should by no means be an easy way out.  Many research evidence leads to the conclusion that it is an ineffective method of discipline with injurious effect on the physical and mental health of those inflicted. Corporal punishment builds a learning environment that is unproductive, and punitive that robs the inflicted and those watching the violence the full potential to learn. What is worst is that school, the temple of learning, where all good things must unfold, would be promoting a dangerous message of violence. Psychologist also point out that violence perpetuates violence. Through modeling, the inflicted students would learn aggression and exhibit violent behavior.

As parents, we storm the school at the slightest indication of corporal punishment inflicted on our children. As teachers we do not know how to react when a student makes a denigrating remark in the class. A group of young children files charges of assault against their teacher. A student shoves the teacher in anger. A teacher violently beats up a student.

This calls for a reflection in our schools. As we banned corporal punishment in our schools, have we instituted effective alternative disciplinary mechanisms in place? Are they adequate? Is the rising disciplinary problem a result of inadequate disciplinary mechanism? Are our teachers adequately trained to appreciate and practice alternative disciplinary approaches? What constitute corporal punishment? Could we authorize some forms of physical punishment until an effective alternative disciplinary approach is instituted? How can disputes arising from violation of the ban be addressed between students, parents and teachers?