Teachers' and pupils' attitudes and practices regarding the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools in the Gauteng area.
Date
1996
Authors
Cohen, Sheryl
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
Educationalists throughout the ages have supported the
belief that corporal punishment creates harmful effects and
should be avoided at all costs. Furthermore, corporal punishment
has been found to be neither effective nor permanent in stopping
undesirable behaviour in the classroom.
Despite the evidence however, South Africa frequently used
corporal punishment for the sake of discipline, social control
and even 'moral education'. In the not too distant past, it was
sanctioned by law, by parents and by teachers (Rice, 1987).
However, in 1994 judicial corporal punishment was outlawed and
corporal punishment at schools became unconstitutional (clause
3(n) of the National Education Policy Bill, 1995; clause 22 of
the Gauteng Schools Education Bill).
While policy and legislatlon must play their role, this is
not enough to bring about a change in the practices and
perceptions of teacher's at the grass roots. An understanding of
its harmful effects, and recognition of alternatives is
necessary in order to bring about its complete abolishment. This
study investigates teachers' and pupils attitudes to corporal
punishment as well as what discipline strategies are being used
and are considered effective.
A sample of teachers and pupils were randomly selected from
private, oommunity and public high school types. A total of 602
subjects participated in this study (240 teachers and 362
pupils). Responses to an anonymous questionnaire were tabulated
and analysed.
Findings demonstrated that teachers are ambivalent towards
corporal, punishment, while pupils are clearly anti-corporal
punishment; and support its abolishment. Teachers do report
Key Words: corporal punishment , classroom discipline. alternative
discipline strategies used in the classroom.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Education, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Education degree.
Keywords
Corporal punishment -- South Africa., School discipline -- South Africa.
Citation
Cohen, Sheryl (1996) Teachers' and pupils' attitudes and practices regarding the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools in the Gauteng area, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/22852>