Trigger Warning: Physical And Mental Abuse
BIEAP (Bureau Of Intermediate Education Of Andhra Pradesh) has suspended a teacher named Ravi Kumar after a video (now removed) on Social Media went viral of him brutally slapping and kicking a student.
According to APSCPCR (Andhra Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights), when they learnt about this viral video, they came to the college for further enquiry. But, according to APSCPCR Chairman K Appa Rao, college management tried to sweep this issue under the carpet to avoid the consequences of violating child rights.
Before we discuss at length why this kind of unhealthy behaviour is wrong on so many levels, I want to address one particular issue: according to multiple reports, this incident took place last week. So why are we hearing about it seven days late?
But wait, hold on; on which platform exactly did this video go viral? Why has there yet to be proper media coverage on this topic? It’s shocking and pathetic for the notable media channels to note that the video has been made viral by a famous Indian meme page @TedTheStoner. This incident has sparked the debate about Corporal Punishment, and this is my take on it.
Corporal Punishment Is Wrong!
What is Corporal Punishment you ask? Corporal Punishment is any punishment that uses physical force and is intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort. Other non-physical forms of punishment, such as belittling, threatening, or humiliating the child, also fall under this umbrella. Those in favour believe that corporal punishment instils obedience and self-discipline and produces respect for authority. I am here to say that you don’t have to resort to any violence to instil obedience and self-discipline and to produce respect for authority.
It’s true that when it comes to children, sometimes it is necessary to be strict to communicate our point. But this particular teacher, Ravi Kumar, was more than being “strict.” He was physically assaulting him (what else would you call multiple slaps and kicks?), and there is NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER for an assault of any kind.
But apparently, his justification for beating the student up was for being inattentive in the class. SERIOUSLY? Maybe the student was being inattentive in the class, and let’s say, for the sake of argument, that he was. But if we zoom out and take a look at the bigger picture, we will understand who actually was being more inattentive.
The teacher was inattentive to all the non-violent methods through which he could have gotten his point across to the student. This shows a general lack of interest and awareness to explore avenues other than abuse or violence. Second, the teacher was inattentive to how his evil, degrading act was a gross violation of that student’s rights. Third, the teacher was inattentive to exploiting his position of influence and “respect”. Fourth, the teacher was inattentive to the impact the assault would have on the student, both physically and psychologically. Finally, the school was inattentive in appointing a teacher solely based on their educational qualifications and not conducting proper emotional evaluation and training to tackle various classroom scenarios. So, who was more inattentive?
Understanding Why Corporal Punishment Is Still Persistent
It is standard Indian temperament to cling to the “ways of the past” for longer than usual. Corporate Punishment was (is?) a widely practised pattern in the past to maintain discipline in a classroom. Slapping them on their cheeks, beating them with a stick or a whip, and even openly humiliating and degrading the child for underperforming are some common ways this is practised.
It’s essential to understand the main motive behind implementing this practice. So the underlying assumption behind this practice is that children need to be put through extreme forms of punishment for any undesirable behaviour to become competent and responsible individuals. Parents/teachers/caretakers who are worshipped and revered in our Indian society are entrusted with the authority to inflict these extreme forms of punishment in the name of “love” and “care” and in the best interest of the child. And this has been practised and implemented for so long that it has become a part of our culture and hence a part of our education system. So deep-rooted is the toxic normalisation and rationalisation of corporal Punishment that many people believe it is the most effective way to maintain discipline in institutions and classrooms.
The Consequences
- Apart from the physical and psychological trauma that corporal punishment induces, another major flaw in this practice is that it aims to prevent the child from behaving in a particular manner through force and installation of fear. It does not in any way educate the child on why it was wrong to behave in that particular manner and what is the right way of behaving. So, the child is not offered a safe and supportive environment to learn from their mistakes, which curbs their overall development.
- According to the World Health Organization, extended exposure and experience to this form of Punishment might convince the child that violence is the only way to comply. As they grow up, they might resort to violent means to meet their demands.
- According to Human Rights Watch, Children subjected to corporal punishment might not develop the capacity to understand how it infringes their rights and might resort to aggressive behavioural patterns with their peers and siblings.
- Corporal punishment leads to adverse physical, psychological and educational outcomes – including increased disruptive behaviour in the classroom, poor school achievement, poor attention span, increased drop-out rate, school phobia, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, suicide and retaliation against teachers – that emotionally scar the children for life.
- As a result of being publicly humiliated in front of their classmates, the child has to deal with the embarrassment and potential bullying and shaming from their classmates. This might be pretty traumatising for the child, who might stop showing up to school or, even worse, end up dropping out, out of fear.
Stop Normalising Corporal Punishment
Corporal Punishment has been so deeply rooted into our Indian system that the people who were born in the “80s” and the “90s” flex about it for going through it and pass inconsiderate comments like “isme kya trauma hai” because, for them, “ye to roz ka hai.” This is precisely how these inhumane things manage to pass down from one generation to the other.
Please understand that it’s not okay that it happened to you, and it’s not okay that it’s happening now. STOP normalising it. Just because you were the victim, you expect us to be victims too? Also, another massive flaw in this corporal punishment system is that it allows teachers/elders to assume this authority to inflict abuse upon students. Why is their decision considered “ultimate?” Why do they possess this right in the name of “respect” and “influence?” Teachers and elders are NOT always correct. This, too, is toxic normalisation.
Conclusion
I believe the debate on whether corporal punishment should be practised should be put to rest. It is a practice of the past and should be made abundantly clear why it is imperative to debunk such a degrading form of punishment. Teachers should be aware of non-violent ways of maintaining decorum inside their classrooms. Schools should enforce strict policies that strongly condemn corporal punishment. Let us uphold and respect each other’s fundamental rights, starting from children, because they are our future, the precursors of our nation.