Ludhiana, July 31
Corporal punishment by teachers makes children not only aggressive, dull in studies, irritable, but also psychic. Most of the psychiatrists and psychologists in the city feel that thrashing and even mild beating of children should be completely banned in schools as it affects their personality, making them imbalanced and indecisive individuals.
Dr
R. L. Narang, former professor and head of the Department of Psychiatry, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), says beating can result in psychological trauma among children. They may become depressive, fearful, aggressive towards parents, irritable and poor in studies.
Dr Narang suggests that rather than beating up children, the teachers should discuss the matter with their parents. If the matter is not solved, the principal should intervene. The student should be given a warning and his parents told about it. “The child should not be slapped or canned for minor things as this is no solution,” says Dr Narang.
Dr Rajiv Gupta, a psychiatrist, says tamper tantrums occur among such children. “They refuse to go to school and parents think that they are not adjusting in the new environment. They become non-expressive. Some children start complaining of headache, vomiting and other body aches. They become aloof and feel dejected all the time,” he says.
Doctors suggest that parents should not neglect their children. If they come to know that their child was given corporal punishment in the school, they should not hesitate in meeting the teacher concerned.
Ms Rachna, mother of four-year-old child, says if her child is ever beaten up by his teacher, she will immediately go to the teacher and ask why her child was treated in that manner.
Ms Gulpreet Kaur, a child psychologist, says a child who is at fault should be told politely about his mistake. He should be praised for his good behavior and not rebuked for undesirable acts. He should never be discouraged in front of other people. He should be properly moulded by the parents and teachers.
It is pertinent to mention here that in the past one month, several cases of corporal punishment have been reported in newspapers. In one of such cases, a 14-year-old boy of Pakhowal village had lost his life as his teacher had thrashed him with a stick. Though, a case of murder has been registered against the teacher and she is behind the bars, but that does not console the parents who have lost their only son. In another case, a Class VII student of Kheri Jhameri village was allegedly hit with a stick by his physical education teacher for creating indiscipline in the class. The teacher was sacked immediately.
Moreover, the Delhi High Court has held in one of its judgements that children should not be slapped or canned by teachers in schools. Corporal punishment is violative of the children’s fundamental rights to equality before law and the life and personal liberty, the court has held.
