Why Should Corporal Punishment in School be Abolished?

Corporal punishment in school is the use of torture, inhuman treatment or punishment causing pain or injury to penalize for an offence such as misbehavior. Such punishments are often used by teachers in Indian schools to enforce discipline among children.

Despite the persistent efforts of various NGOs and social activists against corporal punishments, news of students being beaten to death by teachers is not a novelty in India. It is a clear breach of human rights, which deteriorates children’s dignity and physical integrity.

Top Five Reasons for Opposing Corporal Punishment in Schools

Students are made to run on the school field on a hot summer afternoon, or made to stand or kneel for long hours in the sun. They are also beaten up with scales on the knuckles or other vulnerable body parts.  These are but a few examples of corporal punishment in schools. Here are the top five reasons that justify corporate punishment in school:

• To combat the promotion of violent culture and insensitivity towards children.
• To prevent violation of human rights and the consequent mental and physical injuries.
• To prevent the development of feelings of fear, hurt and anxiety in children's sensitive minds, which may lead to unusual or violent behavior in the future.
• To prevent the humiliation, torture or insult of a child, which may adversely affect his self-esteem.
• To protect the rights of children from the minority, poor or backward communities, as these children are victimized more than children from affluent families.