Is Flogging the right way to Discipline a Child?

Photo credit: internet

Recently, I engaged some parents and teachers in a discussion on the efficacy of flogging as a way of disciplining and moulding morally upright children.

While few considered beating an easier way to make a child conform to rules, others argued that they beat because it was an effective method used by their parents and grandparents in raising them. It was tough explaining the implications of this to them.

The teachers tried to convince me why they beat the children for every rule they break at school and I was surprised to find out that many of them were not even aware that there is a standard process to follow before any child can be flogged at school. This explains why we have many cases of teachers inflicting permanent scares and life-threatening injuries on the children in their care sometimes leading to death. It is no longer news that daily, children experience one form of physical abuse at home, at school and in their communities by their parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers and other caregivers often over trivial issues which should be ignored or subtly corrected.

While the discussion lasted, none of them agreed with me that beating a child is a form of physical abuse but I had to let them know that any method of discipline that inflicts pain, damages the body, threatens or takes the life of a child is considered abuse and is punishable by law.

One pertinent question asked during the discussion was how possible it is to discipline or correct a child without beating or use of force.

Well, the answer is that it is possible to discipline, reprimand or correct a child without physically abusing that child by using any of the following alternative methods:

1. Talking/Probing: this is perhaps one of the easiest and harmless ways to correct a child if applied without any form of verbal abuse or threat. Have a conversation with that child to understand the reason behind that behaviour instead of flogging. A good example is the case of Nuel a senior secondary school 3 student whose further maths teacher kept flogging him because he suddenly stopped writing his homework and being attentive in class. When confronted by the boy’s parents, the teacher said he didn’t ask the boy why he suddenly changed but resorted to flogging him because he thought it was a deliberate act. Nuel later explained when asked that he didn’t see the need to be serious again since he passed all his subjects when he attempted WAEC in his previous class. He adjusted after having a conversation with his teacher and went on to pass his examination afterwards. The question now is; why did the teacher not think of having a conversation with him first since it wasn’t a usual behaviour by the boy?

2. Counselling: a professional can be engaged to assist in correcting the child which is why it is recommended that every school should have a functional counselling unit with a qualified counsellor. Parents should also identify available counsellors outside the school and engage their services when needed.

3. Positive and Negative Reinforcement: reinforce the behaviour by rewarding good behaviour and removing the things that reinforce negative behaviours at home and school.

Conclusion

The point here is that the excessive flogging of a child, emotional blackmail and threat are not good ways to discipline a child because they are all forms of abuse which contravene the right of the child.

photo credit: internet

African Proverb

A child is to be treated carefully. A child is an axe, when it cuts you, you still pick it up and put it on your shoulder.