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Violence Towards Schoolchildren Is Never Acceptable

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Violence Towards Schoolchildren Is Never Acceptable Clothier PUBLICATION: The Journal Lacey DATE: 5th October 2016 . VALUE: £4,139 &Co CIRCULATION: 24,199 marketing · design · public relations THE J()URNAL WED.NESDAY, OCTOBER5, 2016 Violencetowards schoolchildren is never acceptable > This pictur!!was taken in April 1947 - the month before the Foundation for Educational Research's investiga­ tion began - and served to publicise a young entrepre­ neur's business supplying canes and birches to schools CHOOL corporal punishment my first school, because it was in In 1986 corpora). punishment in refers to causing deliberate Gateshead, I discovered that the state schools was outlawed altogeth­ Spain or discomfort in response leather tawse was regularly used on er. to undesired behaviour by students· pupils. The senior teachers would When it passed through Parlia­ in schools. carry the folded tawse in their jacket ment by a very narrow majority · In May-1947 the Foundation for pockets. I have to admit that at the some of the pro corporal punish­ Educational Research was invited to beginning of my career I rarely ques­ ment MPs did not manage to vote investigate the effects on· children of tioned the effectiveness or ' the because they were stuck in traffic .various forms of punishment and morality of corpo·ral punishment. caused by the wedding of Prince reward by David Rennie Hardman, For many pupils, particularly the Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Parliamentary Secretary to the Min­ academically gifted, those good . at Today the argument about corpo­ ister of Educationand formerMP for games and of course the girls, this ral punishment continues, with Darlington. In his opinion, corporal violent aspect of the schools was many parents and· commentators, punishment was indefensible.... 'It rarely seen. some teachers and community lead­ was bad forthe child, and it was very Though I can remember when die ers and even young people main­ bad for the adult who administered · new Sex Discrimination Act came taining the belief that moderate and it: He also argued that it was impor­ into being in 1975 there were even properly regulated caning helps to 'tant for the Ministry to move with suggestions that girls would hence­ maintain order. public opinion which had to be con­ forth have to be caned as much as In 2008 a Times Education Sup­ vinced that without corporal punish­ boys. plement survey found that one ment discipline would be main­ . Even so attitudes to corporal pun- teacher in five, and almost a quarter tained. ' ishment were changing. In primary of all secondary school teachers, Legal disputes about corporal schools, where it was common in the would still like to see corporal pun-. punishment were not uncommon at 1950s it tailed offquite early. By 1982 ishment refostated. In 2011 another the time. Two years earlier in 1945 A third of Britain's 35,000 schools survey found that half of parents and bare-bottomed slippering at a prep already banned corporal punish­ 19% of students also wanted to bring school was held not to be excessive ment. However rioLEA banned cor­ back the cane .. or unreasonable. In a 1959 case, a poral punishment altogether until Support remained higl;t for most six-stroke slippering for a 12-year­ 1979/80. traditional punishments inclµding old was deemed reasonable by mag- In 1982 corporal punishment in sending children out of class (89%); istrates. · · Britain's schools was dealt a blow by after-school detentions (88%); lunch I was a sensitive and possibly nor­ the European Court of Human time detentions (87%); expelling or mal two-year-old in.1947. Unfortu­ Rights. It ruled that beating school suspending children (84%); and nately I was not born in Poland children against their parents' wish­ making them write lines (77%). But where corporal punishment had es was a violation of the Human shouting at children was less popu­ been prohibited since 1783. Nor was Rights Convention because parents lar, backed by only 55% of parents, I French where it had been banned should have their children t�ught 'in and embarrassing children was since the First World War. Just my conformity with tlieir own religious frowned upon with just 21 % of par- luck to be born in the UK where it and philosophical convictions'. ents supportingit. would not be abolished until 40 Britain was the only country in In 2013, I was talking to an MP ,, years later. Western Europe that still allowed who was just about to be knighted For the next 16 years I sufferedthe corporal punishment in schools. A and was bemoaning the loss of cor­ tawse (leather strap) in infant couple of years earlier, in 1979, Swe­ poral punishment in schools. 'Never school, the cane in primary school den went even furtherby prohibiting . did me any harm' he spouted. 'Nei­ and, it appeared, any implement corporal punishment in all spheres ther did leeches when we used them teachers could get their hands on in of life - in homes, schools, the penal in medicine' was my reply. I hope he -secondary school, including rattan system and alternativecare settings. thought of leeches. when he knelt cane, leather strap, wooden yard; Tom Scott of the Society of Teach­ before the sword. What he will never stick, blackboard dusters, gym shoes, ers Opposed to Physical Punishme!lt understand is that corporal punish­ bunsen burner tubes and of course (STOPP) countered by saying it was ment is abusive both to the receiver the odd slap on the head. a 'tremendous day for children, par­ and the giver. To institutionalise the The rattan cane was the favoured ents, teachers and society as a beating of children is a shame on our instrument, between 36 to 40 inches whole: education system and those who in length. If administered vigorously, The advice from David Hart, Gen·- . took part. this would leave painful weals or eral Secretary of the NationalAssoci­ For me, as someone who lived· 'tramlines' across my posterior last­ ation of Headteachers was 'carry on through the era of state sanctioned ing several days. caning'. He said that the judgement - corporal punishment, the thqught of In relatively few places in England which did •not ban caning - would its return is horrific. But as I said at the leather strap, tawse, was used. cause confusion in schools which the beginning, perhaps I'm a little Again just my luck! Two of the 'rela­ will have to distinguish between sensitive. tively few places' were Gateshead children who are allowed to be beat­ • Les Walton is chair of the North­ and Newcastle. On appointment to en and those who are not. ern EducationTr i./.st. I .
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