ATTITUDES OF TEACHERS AND PARENT TOWARD CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SECONDARY SCHOOL

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Corporal punishment is kind of punishment the causes severe pains to the body. It can be in various forms among which are flogging, picking pains, frog jump, uprooting trees and so on. Flogging which was mostly used in secondary schools was abolished in 1959 by the federal government thus generating argument between and among parents and teachers. Parents, teacher and even the society at large are arguing that corporal punishment be re-introduce to secondary schools. Corporal punishment should be used as a social control mechanism as it helps curbs indiscipline thereby establishing and maintaining a society full morally disciplined pupil. (Sulaiman 2013). The area of corporal punishment was widely spread in school of Europe some several centuries ago. Corporal punishment formed an important part of the curriculum; Sparta boys were subjected to the ordeals of severe flogging as a test of entrance and manhood (Boycott and king, 1975.) Gene et al (1982) defined Corporal punishment as inflicting of bodily or social pin to the leaner. Also according to him, students who misbehave are regarded as “bad” and are in need of punishment is applied it means that all other methods of punishments must have been adopted and failed before the school administer applies corporal punishment.

Hence, Corporal Punishment could be seen as presentation of unpleasant stimulus to cause a reduced frequency of emission of behavior. Also Gene views punishment as arranged in order of severity and should be used in order as far as it is necessary to control the situation. Also when universal free secondary education was introduced in the old Western region 1955, flogging in schools was banned. However, some parents and teachers opposed to it, they argued the Nigeria children are not ready for such a change (Abiri 1976). Most parents believed that only the use of cane reform children and make them learn. Hence, the adage “spares the rod and spoils the child” they also believed that if one is too lenient in training a child, he will bring misfortune to himself and his family. Parents also stress the importance of obedience and respect to elders and thereby demand unquestionable submission to their will. Thus.

They believe that the present indiscipline in schools is due to the ban on the use of corporal punishment. (Daniel 2011). Since 1975, there has been an increase in public attention to the problem of indiscipline in our country in general and also in our schools system in particular. Early 1977, the issue reached a critical point when the them military government concluded plans to deploy military personnel to secondary schools in order to maintain discipline. (Bulus 1988). In July 1977, the National Policy Development Centre organized a workshop on discipline in schools as part of its own study on national discipline. Also in 1984, the military government in power launched “war against Indiscipline” in the country. However, its activities towards the use of corporal punishment in secondary school were lukewarm.

Although some people view corporal punishment as an act of discipline whiles other perceive it a harsh act of discipline. The application of corporal punishment is what that pupils would not be injured It is clear that the rate of indiscipline in our schools nowadays cannot be over emphasized. This raises the question of effective disciplinary methods in the control of problem behaviors. It is therefore essential to investigate the attitude of parents and teachers towards corporal punishment on erring pupils in secondary schools. (Bulus 1988).

1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of this study is just like any other study, is to highlight the importance of punishment because it is a general view that not all forms of rewards can make a pupil to be submissive. Punishment is intended to effect a change in behavior, or break habits. Punishment is meant to save other children from falling prey to the offender’s act. For instance, if a child is identified as a bully in the school and the behavior is not curbed, he is likely to influence a few other children to practice same. The tendency to graduate into armed robbery is glaring. In a nutshell, punishment is well administered it can accomplish the following result: (1) Teaching the child respect for authority. (2) Forcing the child to do something he was not ready to do.