(Note: All photos for this article were obtained by walking to the closest school today and saying, "I'm an American teacher and have never seen a punishment cane. Can you show me how it works?" It may seem bizarre to be smiling in photos about corporal punishment, but here, the whole affair is discussed with levity.)"How many of you were beaten with canes by your teachers TODAY?" I asked the YCC students as a logical follow-up to our class discussion on corporal punishment in Ghana.
Ten hands shot up.
What?! I gasped. These were the loveliest, most well-behaved students on earth! "Why did your teacher cane you?" I asked, aghast.
They went around the circle and shared."I was late to class."
"I was talking when the teacher was talking."
"I didn't bring my homework."
WOW.
"Where do they hit you when you get caned?" I pried.
"Oh anywhere," said Esteria, smiling shyly, "your back, your arms, your... buttocks." Everyone giggled.
"So what do you think of this practice?" I asked. This was fascinating.
"Well, it's good and bad," replied Reuben. "It's good, because it really teaches you a lesson, and it keeps the class well-behaved. It's bad because sometimes you are crying so hard afterwards that you cannot concentrate on the lesson."
For all the outcry this may cause in America, I have to admit: I see both sides of this issue.In my years teaching in corporal punishment-free Boston, I've watched an awful lot of detentions and suspensions and calls home be utterly ineffective.
And the truth remains: I have never worked with such kind and well-behaved students in my life as I have this month in Ghana.
"The government of Ghana is starting to phase out caning," explained YCC Administrator, Oliver. "Now there are other physical punishments like forced exercise, or making a child squat on the ground while crossing his arms and holding his ears for as long as the teacher says."
Today as we were visiting the local school, one student was kind enough to demonstrate this punishment, pictured, right.But the stark differences with American schools don't stop here. In Ghana, there is also the concept of a "Student Prefect." Apparently, one student is assigned the role of "Prefect," and it is his or her job to write down the names of all of the chatty or disobedient children in each class. At the end of each day, the Prefect gives this list to an administrator, and the administrator beats these children with a cane.
Imagine being that Prefect!
"Sometimes the Prefect gets beat up on the way home by people he has reported," admitted one student today. "Or sometimes he abuses his power and will put the name of his enemies as disobedient and his friends as well-behaved."
WOW."Make sure to put some of these details in your penpal letters to America," I directed my YCC class, chuckling and shaking my head. "Your American friends will be shocked."
"Really?" asked one girl incredulously. It's hard sometimes to believe that other parts of the world are as different as they are.
"Really."
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interesting post - you really seem to think it is not such a bad idea, so would you consider using it yourself if one of your students was being especially awkward?
ReplyDeletesam
Sam,
ReplyDeleteExcellent question! As I mentioned in the article, I am keeping a very open mind about different world discipline policies, as I see the excellent behavior the Ghana version has produced, but I am also aware of the problems that physical punishment can create.
As for my own use of such methods, I would be promptly fired if I caned a student in Boston, so that's not even an option. Even in Youth Creating Change, Sogakope, where I am teaching now, they have a no-caning policy.
If I took a full-time job in a Ghanaian school that used caning, however, I think I would either have the option of caning with my own hands or having an administrator do it. In truth, I am not sure which path I would choose in such a situation! Other teachers and readers, care to weigh in? What would YOU do?
Thanks for writing!
- Lillie
I am not a teacher but I would NOT cane and I would not suggest the administrator do it either.
ReplyDeleteAs a public high school teacher in the US, I too would be instantly fired if I ever caned a student. Even if I had the option to use caning, I never would, because it results in creating an atmosphere of fear. I strongly believe that in order for students to learn, they need to feel safe and comfortable. Caning might produce short-term results, but the long-term impact could be far worse. I focus on trying to create an atmosphere that my students want to come to.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that surprised me the most must be the "Perfect", this must really mess up these kids?! Talk about making things worse...! I'm kind of lost for words here.. is it a different kid every day that takes on the role "perfect"?
ReplyDeleteSofia - it's a "prefect" - although I mis-read it the first time too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefect
ReplyDeleteHi lille, having grew up in England I had the luck(!!) to go to schools where both canes and prefects were still in use.
ReplyDeleteMy experience was between the two extremes of the argument that you hear, on the one hand it wasn't the abusive horror that some people suggest (children tend to take everything as normal), and so far I don't seem to have grown up into a homocidal psychopath.
But on the other hand, it was pretty scary to get it, and painful too, and I am not sure it actually helps such a lot, since children just don't think in terms of 'consequences of their actions' like that, unless of course they are really terrified, which I am sure is not the aim!
And if you want to know first hand - why dont you get someone to try it on you instead of just posing for pictues, and let us know what you think :D
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for your clear-headed and informative comment! It certainly helps this debate to hear from someone who's actually felt the sting of the cane growing up.
Indeed, you are correct that I should have been soundly lashed as research for this article, but this is how the morning conversation went:
Me: "Please actually hit me with the cane."
Teacher: "NO! It will hurt!"
Me: "I know-- I'm trying to actually get the full picture."
Teacher: "NO!"
Me: "Come on!"
Teacher: "Okay, how about this..." (tiny little cane tap)
Me: "Seriously! Try to actually do it!"
Teacher: "No!"
I will continue my attempts to actually be caned, and once I am I think I will determine that the whole thing... hurts.
Thanks again for reading and commenting! Keep it coming!
Interesting that the teacher refused to cane you because it will hurt. Will the same teacher cane a child without a second thought?
ReplyDeleteI am wondering what will hppen to the prefect if they refuse to write the names of the misbehaving classmates.
This blog is making me squeeze my face.
Love Granny
i dont think you should squeeze your face that much, we actually grew up with this kind of punishment in our area but actually it is fading out. all what Lillie is doing is just comparing what happens out there and what is happening here.
ReplyDeletethanks lillie for making us know the kind of worlds we live in.
If the only criteria were results then it would be caning all the way.
ReplyDeleteI know it's easy for me to say but I think when you hear the word "caning" that it sounds much more brutal than it actually is. Seems to be akin to a rap on the knuckles with a wooden ruler (which was the norm here in America not long ago wan't it?).
Interesting exploration of cultural differences in education and child development. I like the non-judgmental way to discuss the issue.
ReplyDelete@backpackinggranny - I also thought it was a bit ironic that he refused to use the cane as it would hurt!
ReplyDelete@Lille - It was me who wrote the post describing where I 'felt the sting of the cane', sorry for posting Anonymous, i dont have any of the other identities registered.
You are saying that the cane seems to have a good effect in schools in Ghana as the children are so well behaved, but I noticed you had already been to Japan (actually that is how I came across this page), and my experience of Tokyo schools is that they have the most amazingly well behaved and hard working children I have ever seen anywhere! But there (so far as I know) there is no physical punishment.
Now though I am really looking forward to hearing what your opinion of a good 'six of the best is'! But one bit of advice, don't let him do it on your hand, there are too many small fragile bones in there which can be easily damaged. Just touch your toes and take it like a real woman :)
sam
Lillie,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! It was funny and well written.
But even though you haven't actually gotten the punishment cane yourself, you could probably still compare the feeling to, say a childhood punishment you received.
Were you spanked by your parents, for example? How did it make you feel? Do you remember a particular time it happened?
Thanks for all the comments!
ReplyDeleteI now declare, two months after writing this article, that I am moving steadily towards the anti-caning side of the debate.
Check out Easteria's first-hand account of being beaten for more insight: http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2010/02/easterias-article-beaten-with-cane.html
Precious's article shows another shocking (in my humble American opinion) punishment: http://www.aroundtheworldl.com/2010/03/preciouss-article-kicked-out-of-school.html .
Interesting and important debate, this. Keep the comments coming!
- Lillie
Thoughtful and informative writing. Like you I have mixed feelings: I got the impression from your articles that in practice the cane is used too often and too randomly, but in theory it's not necessarily such a bad thing to have there as an option.
ReplyDeleteI remember being very surprised at my (non-caning) primary school – when my class was asked for a show of hands on who agreed with such punishment, most actually did. As long as it wasn't used on them personally, of course!
As others suggest, you need to experience more than a tiny little tap to really have a clear idea.
First I have to apologize for my bad English.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, I would like to bring some aspects into the discussion.
I have read your article and the discussion here with great interest. Just because at the moment we have a public debate about the earlier abuse and beatings at church boarding schools here in Germany. Especially in my case, an interesting discussion.
Today, it is difficult to understand but one must always bear in mind a different era and the culture had changed since then .It is not so long ago that in several European countries, corporal punishment in schools and home was used. The positive thing about it was another kind of respect for the teachers and parents than the kids have today. Nevertheless it is by today's discretion a less acceptable type of discipline in Europe.
One of my friends was even a time as a teacher in Africa and she had started a aversion against corporal punishment. After some time she has changed her mind and adapted as it was impossible for her to bring that many children to rest. I myself could not agree with her but she said that it was effective. The children were accustomed to receive lashes if they misbehave. Just the presence of the cane in the class helped her with the discipline and she argue that it is just a different culture. Okay that´s her opinion and okay it's a different culture
but she grew up without this kind of punishment. Rather violently that she has done that then.
Since I grew up very religious, because my mother was a Jehovah's Witness, I know how a cane stings. Believe me, it hurts a lot. If you still want to try, don´t forget a pillow !
Well you should make your own experiences and try out what is in your opinion the most effective. I only can not imagine how you're running by the class with a cane in your hand as well as I could not imagine what my friend did.
-Monika