Conference proceedings

1. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS
BANNED IN SCHOOLS? STATUS OF
GLOBAL MOVEMENT TO OUTLAW
THE PRACTICE
Ashwini Tiwari
Roger Shouse
The Pennsylvania State University
Comparative and International Education Society Conference, 2014, Toronto

2. Discrepancies in the use of corporal
punishment
• 140 countries have signed United Nation’s
Convention on Child Rights (UNCRC).
• Remained an universal phenomenon- 76
countries have no law.
• Definition and validity of corporal punishment is
debated by researchers/policy makers.

3. Cultural factors of corporal punishment
• Collectivist belief on students’ discipline.
• Personal experiences and philosophies of
teachers.
• Use of judicious corporal punishment.
• Residual religious beliefs and colonial heritage.

4. Organizational factors of corporal
punishment
• Local vs. National/International: Teachers’
authority trumps laws.
• Use of corporal punishment as a humiliating
motivational tool for tests.
• Uncertainty regarding alternative strategies.
• Maintenance of school decorum.