Dear Editor,

I refer to the letter of December 5 by Norman Edmonson, “Corporal punishment an absolute necessity” I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Mr Edmonson argues that because of scarce resources, we cannot provide psychological counselling and/or behaviour modification for troubled or troublesome children. So we have to punish them physically.

Our leaders tell us constantly that our children are precious; they are our most valuable resource, and they are our future. But due to financial constraints, says Mr Edmonson, we have to hit the little darlings. This will result in better behaviour and better grades. Cheap at the price, no doubt!

I would love to see the proof of that, preferably a longitudinal, double-blind study.

Teachers should be licensed to inflict corporal punishment; we can’t have some unqualified person smiting the kids, can we? So I propose the following:

* Maxim – no blood, no bruising

* Trainees must practise on each other twice weekly for three months

* Final examination to be conducted on the parents.

Only then will a teacher be licensed to beat your child.

I just love the observation about “the modern parent who is more educated but less intelligent”. I have to wonder why this is so. Could it be…? No, of course not? So if we pursue this course of action, will we soon have a nation of well-behaved, highly educated morons?

David Buckley

windarrow_01@cwjamaica.com