A conversation with a teacher in Montego Bay last week at a staff function has left me even more severely concerned about the position taken by various leaders of the society, including the Government through the Ministry of Education, the Opposition spokepersons, the National Parenting Commission, and others in high places, as it pertains to the issue of using corporal punishment to assist the administration of discipline and curb the behaviour of children.

The teacher related the experience of trying to correct a grade four student, who promptly informed the teacher that he cannot do anything to him, since the Ministry of Education says that he should not beat him.

At school, the awareness of the option of corporal punishment, which the headmaster at of my primary school had, drove the fear of God in the hearts and minds of my classmates. The few unforgettable experiences in his office went a mighty, long way in curbing my behaviour as a boy, and keeping me in line. I also know of many other people who had the same experiences as myself and are doing very well.

My parents used corporal punishment in a very proper manner to assist in the disciplining of my nine siblings and I, and at no time did I feel emotionally abused, physically threatened in terms of getting my bones broken, or unsure of the love, commitment and devotion which my parents had toward us.

Because of my personal experiences, I am fully convinced and satisfied that corporal punishment is not the problem that we should be focusing on. I am totally satisfied that the real problem and issue at hand is, in fact, abusive adults, including teachers, who are not properly trained in handling children and who, in some cases, because of personal deficiencies, are incapable of loving and nurturing the young ones.

Furthermore, I know of cases where emotional and verbal abuse of students by some teachers inflicted even more lasting damage than physical abuse could ever do. How do we respond? By banning teachers from talking to students?

If we follow the principle of banning corporal punishment because of abusive teachers, then, in the same way, we should ban the police from imprisoning nationals because of the abuse that some prisoners experience in prison, even to the point of death in some instances. We should ban police from carrying around weapons because of the annual unexplainable annihilation of Jamaican lives that occurs at the hands of Jamaican lawmen who should, instead, be protecting them.

We should ban cars from driving on our roadway because of drivers who do not use the roadway properly, even to the point of killing many Jamaicans year after year. We should ban politicians because of our experience with so many dishonest holders of political office. We should ban lawyers from representing people because so many of them are stealing from their clients. We should ban the running of bars in Jamaica because of the terrible impact which alcohol is having on many families in our nation. And we can go on and on.

We are, therefore, in danger of throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater. We have to simply look at who and how we select people to teach our children and the required qualifications, which obviously cannot be just what they learn at teachers’ college.

Corporal punishment is not a “negative measure” as described by many bodies and professionals. While I appreciate the so-called positive measures that are recommended by the various bodies, I also understand the extreme importance of dealing with some issues and situations involving young children promptly through the usage of corporal punishment. The number one objective of corporal punishment is to teach children the important lesson: There will always be consequences for wrong actions and, in many instances, very bitter and long-lasting consequences for wrong actions. The earlier in life that they learn this principle, the better and less stressful life will be for them and, consequently, for all of us. Also, the earlier in life that an individual learns this lesson, the less expensive it will be for the State to have such an individual as a citizen in the country. The longer and later in life that children take to learn this lesson, the more expensive it becomes for the State, since taxpayers may ultimately have to pay to police these same individuals, pay lawyers to prosecute them, pay judges to supervise the cases, build prisons to keep them, feed them, etc.

Modern societies are now reaping the fruit of having to deal with a rebellious and selfish generation of young people who just do what they want to do without regard for authority, values, and what is right. There are no considerations of the consequences of their actions. Why should we follow them as a nation?

I would like to implore the authorities to to learn the wisdom of the Bible: He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (Proverbs 13:24)

And, Proverbs 23: 13-14 — Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, and deliver his soul from hell. May God help Jamaica.

Wesley C Boynes is a pastor and president of the Jamaica Independent Schools Association. Send comments to the Observer or