2. ABOUT MYSELF
I am Mots’elisi Denezulu, a third year student at Lesotho
College of Education, I am going to talk about corporal
punishment.
3. INTRODUCTION
This presentation is about what is meant by corporal
punishment in schools, why some teachers use corporal
punishment, negative effects of corporal punishment, why corporal
punishment is not effective in moulding students and the
alternatives to corporal Punishment.
4. DEFINITION
• Corporal punishment in schools is a controversial topic with various
perspectives and opinions surrounding its use. It involves the
deliberate infliction of physical pain or discomfort on learners as a
means of discipline or punishment for unexpected
behavior.(ENCYCLOPEDIA on Early Childhood Development, 2022).
• It includes actions such as hitting, slapping, spanking, punching
and forcing one to take excessive physical exercise as a form of
discipline.
5. WHY SOME TEACHERS USE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT?
• Teachers use corporal punishment so as to control learners’
behavior.
• They use it to maintain order and discipline among learners.
• Some teachers use corporal punishment due to limited
knowledge of alternative approaches.
• It can be used to provide immediate consequences for
students’ behavior.
• To teach learners a lesson.
7. EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
• It is associated with higher levels of aggression against peers,
siblings and parents.
• Extreme cases of corporal punishment can cause long-term
emotional trauma, affecting learners’ mental well-being.
• It damages learners’ self-esteem as they may feel humiliated and
ashamed in front of their peers.
• Learners may develop negative feelings towards their teachers who
use corporal punishment, leading to strained teacher-student
relationships.
8. PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
• Learners subjected to corporal punishment may experience
bruises, cuts or welts as a result of punishment.
• Severe corporal punishment can lead to serious health issues,
including fractures and muscle strains.
• Physical punishment can escalate into abuse or excessive force
when not properly monitored and regulated.
9. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
• Learners may develop trust issues with authority figures and
become less likely to seek help from teachers.
• It promotes gender based violence.
• Learners who endure corporal punishment may become
demotivated and disengaged from their studies, affecting their
academic performance.
10. WHY CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT EFFECTIVE IN
MOULDING STUDENTS?
• Corporal punishment often fails to bring about lasting changes.
Punishment may suppress undesirable behavior temporarily.
• While corporal punishment may yield immediate compliance, it
does not effectively address the underlying causes of
undesirable behavior.
• Instead of inspiring curiosity and love for learning, corporal
punishment can create a negative association with education
and hinder intrinsic motivation.
11. ALTERNATIVES TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
• Positive reinforcement: Recognizing and praising learners for
their good behavior and achievements can promote a positive
classroom environment.
• Restorative practices: Focusing on repairing harm caused by
misbehavior through empathy and involving learners in finding
solutions.
12. CONTINUATION OF ALTERNATIVES TO CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT
• Counselling and support services: Providing counselling and
support for learners who require additional help with their
behavior and emotional well-being.
• Classroom management: Utilizing proactive strategies such as
setting clear expectations and offering engaging lessons to
prevent misbehavior.
13. RECOMMENDATIONS
Corporal punishment should be completely banned in
schools where it is still used because it is ineffective in
prompting long-term behavioral change and can have
negative psychological and emotional consequences for
children. Discipline alternative methods have to be
implemented so as to emphasize positive behavior
reinforcement and conflict resolution instead of
resorting to corporal punishment.
14. REFERENCES
• Lansford JE, Tapanya S, Oburu PO. Corporal Punishment. In:
Tremblay, RE, Boivin M, Peters RDeV, eds. Tremblay RE, topic ed.
Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online]. Available at:
https://www.child-encyclopedia.com/social-violence/according-
experts/corporal-punishment. (Accessed: 26 October 2023).
• American Psychological Association (2019) Corporal Punishment in
schools: Position statement. Available at:
https://www.apa.org/about/policy/corporal-punishment (Accessed:
10 October 2023).
