cane

When it comes to applying rules, in Singapore half measures are not worth it. That’s something the rest of the world has learned the hard way. viral news like the one that has been starring for a few weeks (much to his regret) Didier, a young Frenchman who risks two years in prison for vandalism. The reason: take a straw from a vending machine, lick it and place it back on the display, a ‘feat’ that he recorded and ended up circulating on the networks. With this backdrop, it is better to understand why Singapore is in the news for its peculiar way of combating bullying in schools. While organizations like the WHO either UNICEF increasingly deny physical punishment, in the Asian city-state they have decided to demand the power of the rod. What has happened? That Singapore has shown that it does not mind swimming against the current when it comes to education and pedagogical strategies. While much of the world moves away from physical punishment in classrooms (in Spain they take time banned and the EU has campaigned against them), in the Southeast Asian city-state they have just claim its usefulness to bring certain students into line. And not in a discreet way or away from the spotlight. It was the Minister of Education himself, Desmond Lee, who has been in charge to claim the benefits of a good spanking (literally) in the Singapore Parliament. He did so this week, in response to questions from several deputies and with extensive arguments that can be consulted directly on the official website of the ministry. Is it something new? Yes. And no. What is new are the guidelines issued by the Singapore Government to combat bullying. A few weeks ago, on April 15, the department headed by Lee published a series of guidelines ‘anti bullying‘ prepared after a year of work and interviews with 2,000 people. The Government’s idea was to establish a series of clear recommendations on to do in cases like the one recently shook an elementary school where three children threatened to kill a classmate and her mother. These guidelines include physical punishment for aggressors, which reveals the Government’s commitment to a measure that actually has little novelty. The country’s School Regulations, published at the beginning of the 90s, already included its article 88 the possibility of applying “corporal punishment” to certain students with “a light cane on the palms of the hands or the buttocks, over the clothing.” What does the Government say? In your parliamentary responsethe head of Education has been very clear: the idea is not to simply spank, but to do it as a last resort and in a controlled manner. “Our schools use corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure if all others are inefficient and given the seriousness of the situation,” argues the Executive, which also clarifies that “strict protocols are followed to guarantee the safety of the student.” For example, spanking must be approved in advance by the principal, must be administered by authorized teachers, and the center will take into account “factors such as the maturity of the student or whether the punishment will help him learn from his mistake.” Singapore Legal Advice remember that the rod cannot be used without rhyme or reason: the law does not allow more than three blows. Do we know anything else? Yes. Lee wanted to make it clear that it is not about simply spanking, but about corrective measures being part of a much larger strategy. “If applied, it is never administered in isolation, but always as part of a set of disciplinary and restorative measures.” “The centers will monitor the well-being and progress of the student after the punishment and advise him to reflect and learn,” insist the minister In case there were any doubts, the Government argues that there is research that “shows that children learn to make better decisions when there are clear limits reinforced by firm consequences.” Does it apply to everyone? No. The Government refers to what is included in the school regulationswhich clarifies that corporal punishment, inflicted with a cane, can only be applied to boys. The girls get off the hook, which doesn’t mean that breaking the rules or harassing other classmates gets them free. Other penalties are reserved for them: expulsions, having to stay after classes or a drop in grades, among “other school disciplinary measures.” Education insists that in general the idea is to apply “a graduated disciplinary system” and that the cane is only used with boys “in cases of serious offenses”, when everything else fails. “This is not a new measure, it has been used for quite some time,” underlines the ministry. Regarding the ages of children who can be spanked, Guardian precise that the measure is also limited (although only slightly): it is restricted to students who are at least nine years old. But… Does it work? For Singapore education authorities the answer appears to be ‘yes’. In fact from the ministry fencing a curious argument: although it recognizes that there are studies that show that “frequent and poorly administered corporal punishment” can have “negative consequences”, they relate these practices above all to what happens in homes and “unregulated environments.” “The context in our schools is very different. Our centers use corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure if all other alternatives have proven insufficient,” he says. Things are quite different if we ask the WHO, which just last year published a report warning of the “risks” of corporal punishment of children. “The consequences can last a lifetime and impair physical and mental health, education, and social and occupational functioning,” argues the organization, dependent on the United Nations. According to their calculations, there are around 1.2 billion minors (between 0 and 18 years old) in the world who receive corporal punishment at home each year. In schools, it is estimated that it occurs between a quarter and a half. Does it only apply to children? That is one of the great … Read more