Job Discussion Forums

[Granada Girl]

Hey! any tips on how to handle corporal punishment?

[Gordon]

Hmmm, any more information here? Are we talking babies or senior citizens or something in between. Where are you?

This has to be one of the vaguest posts I've ever seen, congratulations.

[Magoo]

And do you mean administering it or seeing others do so?

[culfy]

[Granada Girl]

basically, there's a good chance I'll be heading Asia with the Peace Corp in a few months. They want to know how I'd handle working in a school system where corporal punishment is the norm. I truly don't think I'd handle it well if I had to witness it, never mind participate!

[Chris_Crossley]

[Granada Girl]

Thanks Chris! I appreciate you taking the time to reply. That's exactly what I needed to hear!

[Chris_Crossley]

[Gordon]

Good post Chris. I agree with you 100%

I experienced it many years ago in Korea. One Korean teacher (maybe 20 years old) would regularly thrash the little kids if they were out of line with a stick. Their arms were all bruised. One day I stopped her by grabbing the stick and telling her if I ever saw her do that again... She could imagine what would happen. Never heard her ever beat a kid again.

You have your principles, stick to them, they are what get us through in life.

[Atlas]

Don't teach in that kind of school. If the students can't handle being in school, find a school where they can. You're job is to teach, not to domesticate them. That's their parents' responsibility, and if they didn't get it from home they won't change for you. You will find a need for that punishment on a daily basis. More misbehavior, not less.

Also it is more humiliating for the teacher I think.

You are better off in an expensive 40 hr/wk language mill where the students don't throw their money down the drain by f*king around needing paddlings. You'll go home in a better state of mind, energized not drained, yes even at 40 hours.

Tell that school that you are a teacher not a rodeo clown. discipline problems should be handled by the administration, not the teacher. The system should address it effectively, but it sounds to me like they leave you in the classroom to drown with no backup, and not enough motivation for the students to participate.

Last year I taught at a school where one swift action against the first teenage perp might have saved me a year of headaches. (I was very much of the "instant karma" school of diplomacy). But instead I kept my own counsel, kept my mitts to myself even when shoved and goaded, taught for a year of hell, and never went back. (Had we been studying Aikido and not English, the lesson would have been...simpler. But that wasn't my role and I refused to accept it).

So maybe you are talking about tykes but I thought I'd throw in 2 cents about teens.

I wish you peace and happiness, and a classroom of students who are achieving goals, not being babysat!

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Guest]

In 14 months I have never seen any corporal punishment administered here in China.

In Australia, when my youngest Son attending Boarding School a few years ago, he was always getting "the cane".

I think it has now been outlawed in Australia also. I am against it personally, although I think if I had to face a classroom of Australian teenagers, I might wish to kill a few. Chinese teenagers are much more polite - or perhaps it is just that I cannot understand what they are saying about me!!!!

[lajzar]

On a similar point, how ok is it to shout harshly at students? These are 12-16 year olds at a private boarding school in my case.

[Roger]

Corporeal punishment is still practised in parts of China, although it's clearly beating a path out of this land. Rural parts, however, are even more conservative than urban parts are.
In cities, adults have a lot more money, and they lord it over those who come withing touching distance of their kids. Teachers must be careful! The worst behaved kids - and these are quite numerous these days! - have the most vociferous parents. You will no doubt have certain difficulties with both the kid(s) and their parents or the school administration who will under no circumstances be seen to be pandering to a laowai's sensitivities!

However, I have never heard of a foreign nationals actually striking a Chinese kid; it would certainly be disastrous. Chinese teachers take more liberties, but at their own risk too! Recently, some teacher had to apologise to his student for hitting him, then was fired...

Then again, some teachers get awaywith doing a lot more harm to their students. They often take revenge, simple and plain. This is nasty, and counterproductive.

[Boy Wonder]

Corporal Punishment........Yes please but only if administered by a very s.e.x.y and buxom dominatrix.