Chennai kids unite against corporal punishment

CHENNAI: The idea of 'spare the rod and spoil the child' holds no ground today . Abusing children and beating them up at schools in a bid to `correct' them is obsolete. Studies have shown that physical punishment seldom shapes the personality of a child. Yet, corporal punishment continues in many schools across the state despite a ban.
Two months after a student was allegedly beaten up at a school in Kellys in Chennai, students at a city school have decided to come together against the menace.Students of K R Montford Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Perambur have started a campaign against corporal punishment by devising simple methods that can serve as alternatives to alter student behaviour without resorting to abuse.
The Class 11 students of Montford School had a brainstorming session during which they came up with plans that could be implemented schools. “One of the projects we have devised is a wheel with alternative for ms of punishment marked on it. The student will have to spin the wheel and carry out the task accordingly,“ said Keerthana, a student. Preparing a lesson plan and conducting a class for peers, conducting the assembly sessions, reviewing a book, writing notes for classmates, preparing a question paper for a particular subject, and physical exercises, are some of the options marked on the wheel.
“Instead of beating children, which only induces fear, we are making them take up more responsibilities,“ said Anita Daniel, principal of the school.
The students are now visiting other schools in Chennai to share their thoughts. However, not all were ready to accept the anti-corporal pun ishment campaign. Aravind Kumar one of the students, said: “While many schools were keen to use these alternatives in their schools, we also met teachers who said that they can not get the students to learn withou using a cane.“

Childline co-ordinator Anuradha Vidyasankar said the helpline gets several complaints of corporal punishment from across Tamil Nadu.“Many of the cases are reported only when the punishment has resulted in injury to the child or caused severe mentalphysical issues,“ she said.
Former CWC chairperson and child rights activist Manorama said though guidelines exist, corporal punishment has not stopped at schools.“Corporal punishment doesn't just create fear but also cultivates vengeance in the child,“ she said.