Corporal Punishment In Ghanaian Schools-Discipline Or Human Rights Abuse?

GOVERNMENT CALLED UPON TO OUTLAW CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS: ( Centre for Human Development and Social Change, Ghana)

A Ghanaian NGO, the Centre for Human Development and Social Change,Ghana aka CHDSCGHANA has called on the Ghanaian government to outlaw corporal punishments in Ghanaian basic and secondary schools.

The call was made at Mensakrom near Kakum National Park during a special one day special human rights education programme at the week end. During the programme, the call was highlighted with a story from a former Teacher , currently a staff of CHDSCGhana whose experience in a public school in the 1980's has made him an advocate for outlawing corporal punishments in Ghana schools.

"Experience is the best Teacher:


It was in the mid 80s and I was a teacher in a town in the Mfantseman district. We had Wednesdays school worship services every week where we nurtured the kids to be God fearing, Responsible and Accountable.During the OFFERTORY time, yes (collection time), as the teacher on duty I observed one of the boys at the back, "fooling around" so I went straight to him with my cane and I try to hit the top of his head, he tilted his head so the cane hit the very top of his eyes and instantly it started swelling.......well I am even sweating speaking about this...................the boy rushed out of the class, wailing from pain......and started walking to the town to meet the mom who was at the market by then because it was a market day: The distance from the school to the market was like 2 miles and one can imagine the reactions and curses from parents, sympathisers who saw the gruesome and wicked abuse from a teacher on an innocent school boy...........Well, the case was reported to the town's police, but for the timely intervention of my sweet and honorable Headmistress at the time, Mrs. Ntow, I might have gone to prison to serve some term: Yes, the school took care of the hospital bills and I APOLOGISED to the boy and the family.Was it worth it? I reflected after the whole incident and I vowed NEVER to use cane on any kid in my life.........

Did my experience changed many teachers on campus? Yes, it did."

How do you feel looking at the photo attached to this short article?

Happy?
Sad?
Sympathetic?
Responses to this will vary but it all amounts to the same fundamental question?

WHY IS THE TEACHER DOING THAT?
It is our belief that those of us who are teachers can have better alternative ways in addressing classroom issues or school challenges rather than using canes to address same. Our children are our future leaders, we have to teach them right without making them feel violence is the answer to life problems. As teachers we should get to know more about our pupils beyond the schools. Is a pupil coming to school late because he went to bed late? no parents at home? too many people in the family where everybody struggles to use the bathroom? Comes from poor family where eating is a problem? We need to brainstorm to know why kids come to school late: Why some kids perform properly in class and try to help them appropriately rather than using the CANE as the answer.

PROPER CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT techniques are the ALTERNATIVES......... We should be life CHANGERS not ABUSERS: