HomeOld_PostsIs a child spoiled by sparing the rod?

Is a child spoiled by sparing the rod?

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ONE of the key debates taking place in our Constitutional Court right now is whether Zimbabwe should abolish caning as a form of judicial punishment and by extension, as a tool for instilling discipline both in our schools and homes.
The highest court in the land is currently wrestling with this issue following a decision by one of the lower courts to outlaw corporal punishment in a case involving a juvenile convicted of rape.
Although it is the norm for the public to avoid discussing specifics of cases before the courts, the significance of the above mentioned case is such that it is in the public interest to discuss this issue, at least in general terms.
In any case this issue, like the economy, is too important to be left in the hands of experts, be they from our judiciary or from our economic sector, knowing as we do that the outcome of this specific case is likely to affect how our children will be handled both in the private and public spheres, that is, when they go astray in a serious way and need strong guidance.
Further, issues related to this case go far beyond the immediate to also touch on what kind of society we would like to become.
On one side of this debate are lawyers arguing that use of the cane is degrading, cruel and inhuman and should be done away with.
To support their case, they cite a whole batch of international instruments and decisions as well as international conventions which they insist Zimbabwe should follow, just like other countries have done.
On the other side are lawyers supporting the wisdom of the old adage: ‘Spare the rod and spoil the child’.
A number of personal observations are in order at this stage.
After completing a degree programme, this writer had an opportunity to enrol for a one year post graduate teacher training programme at one of the British universities.
This training involved observing in a systematic and documented manner the kind of teaching that took place at primary school level over a specified period. It also involved practicals such as teaching at a number of secondary schools in Britain and being supervised by relevant professors who, in turn, submitted their assessments of the practical teaching to the relevant department of the university.
It is the kind of student mayhem that the writer witnessed during training which convinced him up to this day that it is not wise at all for us to ban completely the use of the rod as far as disciplining of pupils is concerned.
Some of the British secondary schools, generally referred to as ‘Comprehensives’, turned out to be so unruly that three of our group of six trainees gave up on teacher training well before completing their theoretical and practical courses.
Those who persevered and completed their training dreaded going back to teach at Comprehensive Schools.
Keeping order and making sure that a learning atmosphere prevailed in the classroom was then in itself an achievement of sorts.
This challenge partly explains why most of those who have begun their teaching careers in Britain first and later on proceeded to teach in Africa would prefer to go on teaching in an African setting for an indefinite period!
It is fair to say that in Africa our pupils and students are generally well behaved, serious and likeably teachable in a way that some of those in British schools are not.
And one of the reasons for this chaos is obvious.
The rod has been nowhere in sight for a long time!
One does not need to hire a consultant or a ZINATHA expert to read the source of some problems the British have had for a long time in their schools.
In the US, the situation in many of their schools is even worse.
Students have been known to bring knives, guns and drugs to school and come to regard the accompanying behaviour associated with such items as being cool!
It is not surprising that more cases of gun violence and mayhem are taking place, in many cases with some students and teachers losing their lives.
The fact that in most American schools the police are employed specifically for purposes of preserving law and order on school campuses is a sure sign of a dysfunctional educational system that is failing to inculcate certain social norms and values that characterise a civilised society.
In light of the above, the question that arises is: Should Zimbabwe adopt the so-called international conventions and practices simply because other countries have adopted them?
Surely it is in our interest to insist on those cultural practices and norms which have instilled discipline and order in our society!
If occasional spanking and use of the cane assists us in bringing up our children to be responsible citizens, why should we abandon such in favour of simply mimicking other countries whose disciplinary problems we can see thousands of miles away?
Part of our problem is that we have this blind faith in everything Western when in fact, it is not wise at all to do so.
The failings and limitations of Western societies are many, just as their successes are well known.
We should be critical and circumspect where it is necessary and perhaps make creative use of those aspects which work well for them.
Blind imitation of the West in everything can only make us copycats and unoriginal.
This route to blind mimicry and imitation is unlikely to make us a dignified and respectable lot!
Writing in New African magazine recently, Dr Carlos Lopes had this to say about African states and their overwhelming tendency to adopt other peoples’ ideas without necessarily thinking through on the consequences those ideas brought in:
“There is a huge eagerness to please and to comply with international systems and international laws.
“It is this eagerness to be recognised and accepted as ‘grown up’ which African countries have indulged in and they have in the process really omitted themselves from discussing the issues that are important for Africans.”
In brief, while it is true that Africa should learn from others, it is also true that it can do so only from an African point of view.
That point of view implies that we should adopt from others on the basis of where we are as a people, on the basis of our interests and our world view.
To abandon that worldview with its norms and values is to be hijacked by others!

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