Ban On Corporal Punishment in Schools in Bhutan

Ban on Corporal Punishment in Bhutanese schools – is it a tall order?
Teaching in the Bhutanese classrooms are not the same today in an ever complex teaching - learning
environment. Almost suddenly, the society demands the “elusive” quality education. On the other hand
classrooms have become cramped. Teaching, suddenly is not a one way communication where teachers
are knowledge “giver” and students knowledge “receiver”. On the other hand both parties do not know
how to assume the new roles. Teachers are devolved the role of parents at school. On the other hand
the love and piety that binds parents and children is often betrayed. At the heart of these complexities
are the student and the teacher in a classroom full of students, teaching and learning day to day all the
year round and repeating the next year.
In the almost mundane affairs of things, often times, there are stressful moments. Often the teacher
gives in. A student is spanked. The motive is to right the wrong. Fast and effective. Sometimes, the
spanking becomes brutal and abusive. The motive is no more honorable. Often the student gives in. The
teacher is threatened. Insulted. Verbally abused. The motive is to gain attention. Rebel and often
become the class “hero”. Sometimes the teacher is punched in the face in the cover of the dark. The
motive is then ugly and evil. In the midst of these happenings is the ban on corporal punishment in
schools. Teachers are deprived the familiar tool to discipline students. No new tools are provided.
Students feel released from a tether. To be free is to be irresponsible.
Corporal punishment in Bhutanese schools has been an accepted part of school, historically. Often it has
been thought of as an effective learning facilitator. Even today, some parents request the schools to use
it to discipline their children. Some experts even believe that corporal punishment can be an effective
and non injurious technique of teaching and discipline. Children can be better controlled; they learn
greater appreciation for authority; develop better social skills and improve moral character. Moreover,
this group of experts believes that in the absence of alternative disciplinary measures in the schools,
judicious use of corporal punishment is the only practical method to discipline students. Therefore, if
corporal punishment is banned without the alternative system, process and practice in place, it would
create greater disciplinary difficulty in the schools.
Corporal punishment in schools should by no means be an easy way out. Many research evidence leads
to the conclusion that it is an ineffective method of discipline with injurious effect on the physical and
mental health of those inflicted. Corporal punishment builds a learning environment that is
unproductive, and punitive that robs the inflicted and those watching the violence the full potential to
learn. What is worst is that school, the temple of learning, where all good things must unfold, would be
promoting a dangerous message of violence. Psychologist also point out that violence perpetuates
violence. Through modeling, the inflicted students would learn aggression and exhibit violent behavior.
As parents, we storm the school at the slightest indication of corporal punishment inflicted on our
children. As teachers we do not know how to react when a student makes a denigrating remark in the
class. A group of young children files charges of assault against their teacher. A student shoves the
teacher in anger. A teacher violently beats up a student.
This calls for a reflection in our schools. As we banned corporal punishment in our schools, have we
instituted effective alternative disciplinary mechanisms in place? Are they adequate? Is the rising
disciplinary problem a result of inadequate disciplinary mechanism? Are our teachers adequately trained
to appreciate and practice alternative disciplinary approaches? What constitute corporal punishment?
Could we authorize some forms of physical punishment until an effective alternative disciplinary
approach is instituted? How can disputes arising from violation of the ban be addressed between
students, parents and teachers?
(Norbu Wangchuk)
Thimphu

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Ban on Corporal Punishment in Bhutanese schools – is it a tall order?

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