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What are your views on corporal punishment in schools?

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excuse my last post...let me try again.

Bottom line...if they don't respect their parents at home they won't respect their teacher's at school...that is the basic problem (Japan,USA,Austrila..eg) country doesn't matter..global problem.

A good teacher can make a difference but there are so few GOOD teachers (and for what they get paid no wonder).

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Bottom line...if they don't respect their parents at home they won't respect a at school teacher...that is the basic problem.

A good teacher can make a difference but there are so few GOOD teachers (and for what they get paid no wonder).

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As far as the USA goes, I believe a lot of student problems would be cutrtailed if corporal punishment were reintroduced, or had been continued from the `80s. Ditto that for what I've experiencedi n Japan, so far....

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I meant "change in scenery" ....

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Hello GeorgeRoper, good question, I hope you have a good answer for it. But, on a larger scale that's exactly the kind of thinking that countries go to war for.

Like I said what works for you will probably work for your kids. However, Corporal Punishment in schools is just not right. Pull them out of school, kick them out, call the police, do what ever you need, but hitting them probably won't change their attitude. Maybe smacking from a loving parent and they know they are loved works, but cold canning's from a school teacher? If the parents don't care then society has bigger problems and need to educate the parents so it never gets to that point.

Drastic measures need to be taken for some and maybe a change in society will help like few months boot camp or preferably helping out some NPO group in the middle of a 3rd world country. Building wells can be fun.

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cwhite; What do you propse to do with thugs who terrorise the neighbourhood, with parents who don`t care and police who do not punish.

If you suffered like we have to corporal punishment may seem like a good choice. Don`t ignore others suffering, why should the thugs not have corporal punishment for making our lives a misery?

Strewth, we are victims, living in fear, nothing else works, so why not try good old fashioned whackings?

Me and Jerry had the cane loads of times, but we never bullied old people.

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no, no, and no... Never been hit, never seen anyone been hit and nothing good comes out of being hit (except that you might hit back) If you do believe you need to smack a kid then obviously something is already seriously wrong, the problem should have been fixed long before it got to that point.

Just to put that into perspective, have you ever heard of a dog training centre that trains dogs by beating them? Obviously not... then why would humans think hitting smaller humans would have any positive outcome.

And yes, we've already done this topic many times before. I do remember Cleo's wonderful comments. Pity some parents resort to violence or whatever you want to call it... what worked on them will surely work on their kids...

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I was walking to get my daily paper a couple of months ago, and some school boys started shouting "spam head" and "baldy" in reference to my high forehead.

I love these opportunities to teach them. One future inmate thought it would be funny to flip me off. I made a beeline to his chair the instant he did it. Then I flipped him off and stood in front of him for about 30 seconds which probably felt like 30 years to him.

Remeber, the bullies are cowards. It's a fact, Jack. Get in their faces. Calling you names, means they get to feel very uncomfortable and intimidated. Keep yourself in good shape, too, just in case they force you to defend yourself.

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buggerlugs - Also a note for all you purists out there who think a child should never be smacked, when you have kids you may comment on it. if you have kids I wish you luck with your future psychos.

So, you are saying that children who are never smacked grow up to be psychos? - Children who are not disciplined grow up to be psychos. Children who are not smacked grow up without bruises from their psycho parents.

Back on topic: No person has the right to inflict pain on any other person, period! Whether it is disciplinary or not. I grew up in the generation where caning was an accepted disciplinary measure at primary and high school. It had very little effect for disciplining unruly students. It was more effective in creating martyrs that became even more undisciplined playground heroes. Furthermore, if a teacher was to ever inflict any kind of pain on any of my children they would find themselves at the wrong end of a confrontation with a very large and angry Aussie.

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NuckinFutz; If the government introduced corporal punishment into law, a lawsuit may be of little help, unless of course the beating was too severe.

I was beaten at my school and by my father, it didn`t harm me. I was instilled with respect for rules and regulation and authority.

That being said, i do not punish my children using physical means.

This is a very complex issue, and i would imagine the question was posted primarily to achieve a high amount of posts.

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I don't agree with it and any teacher laying a hand on (or verbally abusing) either of my children will face assault charges and a civil lawsuit.

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For me a good teacher is as much a teacher as friend and mentor.

And many of those are found in low-income areas because they care about their students and NOT their bank balance. You will know them when you meet them.

I only attended goverment schools and those teachers earned little, stil friends with many and that is some 20+ years after I left school. Yeah, I covered for their mistakes and they covered for mine.

Like I said they were more friends and mentors than goverment officials. I could go to them with any problem at any time and they would be there to help/assist.

That for me is a good teacher, not someone that stand there gives lectures and than goes home to a fancy home from a big salary.

Example: One of my history teachers was jewish(not uncommon in austria), I helped him compile a demo about the holocaust after hours. I learned more about my countries involvement(mauthausen and things were worse than auschwitz)、than he ever taught in class. He never (as most jews, etc I know) held a grudge but accepted history as it was. My aunt is an orthodox jew.

He was also friends with my folks and we ate supper at his place, etc. He loved to tell jiddish jokes both in class and outside. Most of us viennese can speak jiddish too.

This for me is a good teacher/mentor.

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..and where you can find the "right teachers"? Maybe the "right teachers" are also very smart and go to good schools to teach, less stress more satisfaction,don't you think? Every individual is different,there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all; and I think corporal punishment must be allowed and used as the LAST resort.

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what I am saying there is that there is NO need for corporal punishment if you got the right teachers.

I couldn't agree more. And if they're not the right teachers, I don't want them anywhere near my kids anyway.

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I think they should have good old fashioned corporal punishment. They need to respect authourity.

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tclh.

In my school days we had one teacher that NOBODY liked, we did what we wanted in his classes(played cards, etc). All he ever did was stand there and shout at us telling us that we all would fail, etc. Of course him having playboys, etc in his case didn't help him either with us. He didn't last long at the school.

I have seen the good and bad teachers(one gay teacher had a crush on me and failed me because I blew him off). The good teachers had our respect and were liked and we stood up for them as they did for us. Yeah, we also knew which teacher dated which student. ;)

IMHO, if there are problems at school don't just look at the kids but also look at the teachers(talking teen-aged kids here).

Kids are not stupid and know what is going on(from an early age) they also know which buttons to push. And corporal punishment won't work on most kids today, IMO, it will only make things worse.

What will work is getting their respect and understanding and for that a teacher needs to be more than just a teacher.

Examples: We have an annual weekly skiing trip, great fun and lots of mischief. One of our teachers spend one lesson telling us what mischief the teachers got up to on the trip(and it was on the same level as ours). Last night of the trip are the real ongoings with hardly anybody sleeping. Next lesson was double time.

During a dance event a teacher left us alone for 3hrs as he knew we would behave and we did. But it was a mutual respect and thus it worked.

Basically what I am saying there is that there is NO need for corporal punishment if you got the right teachers.

Hope that makes it clearer.

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There is a high public school in Sydney, majority of students are from a migrant group with a paricular religion background and they are so violent. Teachers at that school everyday spend a large chunk of school time to try to keep their classes in order by yelling ,shouting only because corporal punishment is strictly forbidden in Australia. The students are always ready to abuse teachers, and sometimes attack teachers physically,they know they are well protected by the law and no one can touch them. One teacher comes out and says: you do not need teachers here ,you need army instructors...other parents vote with their feets and have their children to go somewhere else.

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Zen -

No, I'm not confusing a 'healthy smack' with 'beating' a child. I'm saying there's no such thing as a 'healthy' smack.

If the only way a teacher can get my child's attention is by caning him, then that teacher is failing as a disciplinarian.

Moderator: Readers, the subject is corporal punishment in schools.

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Cleo.

Like in previous discussions you confuse a healthy smack and beating a child. You are very extreme on many of your views.

Lets see corporal punishment in a school might be padeling a child or giving them a hit across the fingers using a switch or even across the buttocks. This usually involves a bamboo-rod(or similar).

Either way those hurt and can draw blood. Whereas a smack of mine will never last beyond a few seconds.

NO one is talking about laying into a child, that is your interpretation of our posts.

What we are talking is a way to get their attention.

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Zen -

In short he got warnings and if he refuses to accept them he is in for a tough time

It sounds like you're saying he got threats, not warnings.

life is not all roses, etc and they need to learn it, you need to take responsibility for your actions even if they hurt(physically or not). But they need to know the hurt in order to do so, if not they end up on Judge Judy as another loser with no clue.

What they need to learn is that threats escalating to physical violence is not the way to get on in society (unless you're planning on starting a protection racket or something similar). I think people who don't learn that lesson are more likely to end up losers with no clue.

buggerlugs -

I am in agreement with "TheNewZen" I am all for disipline by school teachers. when they use disipline they should use a stern voice and authority.

I don't agree with Zen on this, but I do agree that teachers should use their voice and authority (plus liberal lashings of headology) to discipline children, not physical chastisement.

I do have kids, and I do believe that no child should ever be smacked. It's counter-productive. Not smacking a child turns him into a future psycho? That's not my experience. On the whole it's the children whose parents dished out liberal doses of swearing, smacks and thumps who have grown up to be foul-mouthed little thugs. They learn from their parents' example.

The discussion seems to have moved from corporal punishment in schools to corporal punishment in the home. If I can raise my kids well without having to lay into them, I'm certainly not going to let any stranger hit them, whether he holds a teaching certificate or not. I'd be concerned what other nonsense he might be teaching them.

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I am in agreement with "TheNewZen" I am all for disipline by school teachers. when they use disipline they should use a stern voice and authority.

The only people who should dicipline with a smack (on the bottom,never any other part of the body) is the parents and NO ONE ELSE! If anyone but me or my wife ever used physical diciplince onmy kids there is no would, I will make sure they never, ever touch my kids again.

Also a note for all you purists out there who think a child should never be smacked, when you have kids you may comment on it. if you have kids I wish you luck with your future psychos.

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If a teacher laid a single finger on my boy, I'd probably end up doing time for what the teacher would receive from me.

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Cleo.

Not at all, IMHO. It teaches them that if they exceed their boundaries they will get hurt physically may it be their parents or their peers at the local school/club/disco/etc.

Same way they need to learn that at times the physical method is the only method to stop being bullied, etc.

Not saying that it is the first or acceptable option but at times you need to get tough(as it might be the only way the other party will accept it).

I don't hit/smack my son for any infraction, first he gets the talk, if that don't work I start the count and if that don't work he faces a smack. He KNOWS the escalation procedure and it up to HIM how far he wants to go.

In short he got warnings and if he refuses to accept them he is in for a tough time. Same for anything in life.

Sorry, life is not all roses, etc and they need to learn it, you need to take responsibility for your actions even if they hurt(physically or not). But they need to know the hurt in order to do so, if not they end up on Judge Judy as another loser with no clue.

Just my view.

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it don't say don't discipline your kid with a healthy smack

A bit of an oxymoron there.... When you discipline a child with a smack, you're in essence teaching him that hitting people to make them obey you is an acceptable thing to do.

Moderator: Readers, the subject is corporal punishment in schools.

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GeorgeRoper -

You don't leave kids to roam the streets and then lay into them when they get into trouble; you raise them from little kiddiewinks not to get into trouble in the first place. Proactive childcare, not reactive. serendipity is right when s/he says that the use of corporal punishment is an indication of a problem in the adult, not in the child.

My parents never instilled fear in me and my brothers, and none of us ended up on the streets terrorising folk on their way to the pub. I never instilled fear in either of my kids, and they've both grown into fine, upstanding young adults.

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If you have ever read any books about child discipline they all state, "Never hit a child out of anger!"

I 100% agree with this but it don't say don't discipline your kid with a healthy smack. What is says is don't hit your kid in "anger" as this is the road to abuse.

Very big difference in my book(and I studied psychology for 3yrs).

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If you cannot discipline children without physical abuse then it is YOU that has the disciplinary problem, not the kid.

Yes.

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serendipity; I would not want to discipline a child because they are not my responsibility. Something has to be done though. Since corporal punishment stopped, kids has turned into yobs, who don`t repect no one.

The only way i grew up and saw working was for schools to use corporal punishment, and the parents to support the schools punishment.

Something has to be done, when feral gangs of kids stop people like me from walking down the pub at night.

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If you have ever read any books about child discipline they all state, "Never hit a child out of anger!" I guess these books were never translated into Japanese. Hitting children in any way, shape or form is wrong, period! If you cannot discipline children without physical abuse then it is YOU that has the disciplinary problem, not the kid.

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I am against corporal punishment, if any it should come from within the family. Said that "A healthy smack never hurt anyone". Did I get my share, for sure but I always asked for them too.

As for my Dad, 183cm and 120kg(mostly muscle). He was heavily into sports(tennis, shot-put, water-polo, etc) and used to carry 30kg paint-tins(per hand) at his work. Not a guy you want to give a fat-lip too.

If done correctly there is nothing wrong with a "healthy" smack but it shouldn't come from a school-offical, etc. FYI, when my parents were at school they still had corporal punishment in my country.

How do I deal with my son, he knows he can earn smacks from me. But they come after a slow count to 5, once I reach 5 it comes. Most of the times I ask him if I should start counting, which usually ends it.

Works for us, he felt a smack(never given at full strength of course juat enough to sting).

Just my view.

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It's different in Oz. Any teenager (under 18) on the streets creating a nuisance can and does get picked up and taken home or to the cop shop. They can be held for up to four hours without a charge as long as the parents are notified. Then there is always the phone book treatment for the extra unruly trouble makers. I don't believe punishing the parents financially is correct either. Although, most of the trouble makers are products of their environment (or lack of one), but a lot of these kids come from disadvantaged families, which would only create more of a burden on them. As for the lumps of lard in uniforms: I have seen kids tell them to get well and trulied many times and the cops just walk away. If you did that in Oz you would be thrown into a paddy wagon and hauled off without a second thought. I guess these incidents are a result of a lawless society for teenagers. The can and do whatever they like with little or no repercussions what-so-ever.

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GeorgeRoper; That situation is bad man. Hy Brits what is wrong with the British Bobby? I thought they were the best for sorting out problems with a minimum of violence.

Dont the police protect the vunerable any more? At least the kids dont carry fire arms, here some places are to dangerous to go, even in daylight. The world is turning crap, can beating or depriving liberty solve the dilemma?

Moderator: Back on topic please. The subject is corporal punishment in schools.

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Patrick Smash, Serendipity; When i was a lad this kind of behavior would land the kid in a reform school. Usually about 200 miles from home, in the middle of the countryside, miles from the nearest town.

They Police do nothing now, just tell them to go home, when the police go, they come back. The government has to do something instead of going on about bleeding human rights and stuff. What about my rights to go out for a pint and a game of darts, without being assaulted?

Maybe we should put the parents in stocks, like the really old days, that would learn them wouldn`t it?

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Yeah, the area I live in is notorious for teenage idiots and the cops do bugger all! There does need to be some fear of repercussion distilled into these kids, but having teachers hit them is not the answer. I have worked in a high schools for nearly ten years and have seen the uncontrolled temper of some of the teachers. Giving them the right to get physical with kids would be catastrophic! Most of my discipline was dished out in the playground by my peers and not by teachers or parents. The most efective form of punishment for teenagers is, punishment by depravation and the only thing that is meaningful to a teenager is time. Make the little buggers stay back after school and put them in detention for lunch times. Stop them playing sports and attending school outings. As for the little monsters on the streets, those lumps of lard in uniforms have gotta start taking these little trouts into custody or at least take them home, as is done in other countries. A couple of hours in a cell is a good deterrent for misconduct and anti-social behavior. The teenagers here are lawless and can get away with whatever they want, hence the verbal attack on George.

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Patrick Smash; I wish they would stop the parents benefits, most of them are on dole and sickness, and they go out window cleaning and cash in hand labouring. I heard one of the thugs father down the pub bragging he made 15 grand a year for 3 days a week window cleaning and 20 Grand from benefits.

I think they should take the kids away, and give them strict environment, if they behave send him to nice countryside place, where they can learn real life things, if they stay bad, keep them in strict place.

Also like you said, cut their parents benefits to the bare bones, make them go to Job centre everyday. Thatll teachem.

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If you 'discipline' people with violence all you teach them is that violence works and is a legitimate way to get what you want. A teacher (or parent) who has to resort to corporal punishment is a failure.

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Patrick Smash- Heh, im only 5 foot 6 mate. The police are often called out, and sometimes they dont come and other times they tell them off, maybe throw their beer down the drain. That`s it. My mate told one of the yobbos father, and the father threatened to break his nose.

What can you do, you feel helpless. If the parent wont discipline them, the police don`t care, then i think the scholl should cane the blooming ruffians.

I can only say, it worked when i was akid, and older people could walk the streets safely, strewth, we even used to get oldies shopping and post letters and stuff.

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Patrick Smash; But they is much worse if i wanted to go out at night or a drink. The yobbos drink bottles of cider, and throw stones at passers by, and it is the only way to get to the Pig and Whistle. I can only go out with my Friend Jerry, because he is so big they are scared of him, or ask Mr Fourmille next door to give me a lift.

Something has to happen, what is wrong with corporal punishment? When it stopped wa when the kids got worse. Blimey, school teachers are scare to tell `em off now. Stick the lot in Borstal making mail bags, without tv and social time.

If parents don`t teach their kids respect, the schools will have to, the old fashioned way. The police used to clip you round the ear and tell your mum if your were naughty in the street, when dad got home you got walloped.

Why should i be in fear to go out at night, because of kids violence, give the swines a taste of their own medicine, let `em see how getting hurt feels. Strewth, it makes my frustrated, geting old thesde days.

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serendipity- Those kids were swearing at me as i walked to the paper shop, minding my own busines, to buy the Sun and The Beano.

Beating worked for me, i never stepped out of line and was violent, even when i was teased for my ginger hair.

How can i act like a yobbo at my age, blimey that`s ridiculous.

I`ve never hit a kid, or an adult, so i would not want to give them a flogging. Schools should be responsible for knocking the kids into shape.

A few whacks of he cane only stings for a bit, but its a good deterrent.

I`m only speaking about my experiences from growing up in the East End, i was beaten, but i never used violence.

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A good beating will make the yobbos keep in line.

No it won't! A good beating will make the yobbos pick on someone else. I grew up in the same generation and the only thing a beating did was create contempt and rebellion. If those kids were mouthing off at you it was probably because you were behaving like a yobbo that wanted to give them a flogging. True?

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serindipity; We was beaten in the old days when i was at school son. We didnt dare swear or be disobedient, we would get a beating, and they would tell our parents, and when dad got home id get another beating, strewth, i behaved.

The kids even swear at their teachers, blimey i would have been expelled!

A good beating will make the yobbos keep in line.

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So GeorgeRoper, you believe beating someone teaches them respect? Hmmm, interesting logic! I agree there needs to be some level of disciplinary action taken at schools, but beatings are in no way the answer. By beating kids you only teach them that violence is acceptable. I can't believe how many people condone physical abuse as an acceptable form of discipline! If anybody was to lay a finger on any of my kids they would find themselves going to either court or hospital, possibly both!

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These blooming kids these days have no respect at all.

I was walking to get my daily paper a couple of months ago, and some school boys started shouting "spam head" and "baldy" in reference to my high forehead.

When i said i`d tell their headmaster they all swore at me, even using the f word lots of times.

They need more dicipline at school and at home, a good beating never damaged anyone. I used to get beaten regulary at school and by me dad, it made me behave better.

The foul mouth yobs these days need a good hiding at school and at home, and if it doesn`t do the trick, stick them in the army,haha taht will learn them.

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Something definitely must be done to restore some level of discipline in the schools. But corporal punishment in schools is out of the question. Any teacher that physically abuses a child should expect to get a spanking from the parents.

Patrick, are you referring to the spanker or the spankee?

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Against it. Not likely to be effective. I wouldn't want to be the person in charge of the swatting. I'd wear a black hood to disguise myself if I had to mete out the punishment. That and maybe some cheekless black leather pants as well. The screams would be too heartbreaking to listen to so I'd have to insert a red ball into the victim's mouth and fasten it with a leather strap. Obviously, the victim would need to be restrained somehow. Not sure about how to do that - unless the police will lend me a pair of handcuffs.

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NO WAY! Would you actually give other people the right to physically abuse your children? Don't be so absurd! What is wrong with you people???

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I went to a greta school in the States. Up at 6am. Marching at 6.30. Thrashed if we disobeyed orders, or were diobedient.

it didn`t harm me. I inherited a successfull business which is thriving.

If i ended up successfull, why cant others. They need to learn discipline, respect and hard work. If the kids dont, beat it into them the good old fashioned way.

The traditional methods work best, most kids don`t even call their fathers sir these days, standards have fallen.

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Don't bother with corporal punishment - how about capital punishment? The best way of clearing the streets of hoodlums and thugs is to get them while they're young, nip the problem in the bud. I propose a 'three strikes' system. Forget to do your homework once and you're ok, but three times and that's it.

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Not sure why the question came up.

Unless it is related to an article about States in the USA that still practice it. Seem to be quiet supported by parents in those states too.

Personally, I think it is an archaeic concept and glad that the majority of nations got rid of it.

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Corporal punisment, an absolete word, why such question? Is Japan thinking of re-implementing it in 21st century?

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