BENGALURU:Who doesn't remember standing outside class for talking between classes or being asked to get their remark book signed by parents on having forgotten their homework? We have all been there.
But what level of punishment is justified? Is punishment okay at all? How are children in the city responding to punishments? In a survey, City Express talked to 60 students from government and private schools on their experience with punishments in school.
Of the 60 interviewed, 55 told us they have been punished by their teachers. None of them ever told their parents about the incidents because they feel they deserved it and that their parents would support the school.
'My Knees Hurt'
Divya, a ninth grader from a private school, spoke of how she had to kneel down for a whole period as punishment, “My teachers are strict when it comes to homework. I did not do my homework, so I had to stay on my knees outside class for an hour. I haven't told my parents about it because they will think that I'm wrong. But my knees hurt so much that day.” Another eighth grader mentioned that her subject teacher beats students who don't bring their homework. Both students have kept these incidents from their parents for the fear of another punishment at home.
Embarrassed in Class
Students reported incidents where they were forced to finish their homework sitting on the ground. Sharon, a fifth grader from a government school, said, “I had to sit in the playground at 1pm when it is so hot.
She didn't let me leave until I finished my homework. It is also embarrassing.” Sharon too hasn't told her parents about the episode.
Friend in Need
A seventh grader, Savitha shared a personal incident about her friend, “My friend hadn't done her homework one day, but I had. I didn't want her to get punished alone, so I pretended to not have my homework with me. We sat on the ground and I helped her finish it in 15 minutes.”
Apologies Don't Work
A lot of students said they are asked to leave the class. Asha, a tenth grader said, “They send us out of class everytime I don't bring my homework. It is hard because I miss what the teacher taught and then, I get blamed for not knowing what she discussed in the previous class.” Another tenth grader added, “We try pleading and apologising. My class teacher once shouted, 'No excuse! Get out!”
Threatened
Pushpa, a sixth grader said, “We get so scared when the teacher's period is next.” Another sixth grader claimed of being threatened by a teacher, “She said she will call our parents to school if we don't do our homework properly.” Nashrah from tenth grade wanted all her school teachers to be replaced by new ones.
Not all Parents Okay with Punishment
When asked parents how they react to their children getting punished, everyone said it depends on the level of punishment.
John Johanan, father of a teenage daughter, said, “When it comes to physically punishing the student, I'm against it.” Johanan is not scared of the school throwing out his kid, “I will ask them what rights they have to physically punish my kid. If they throw her out, she will get admission somehwere else and I'll tell the next school that I won't tolerate them hurting my baby.”
Aashita Chadha, mother of two, is against the idea of punishment.
She says, “I will be the first person to get my child out of school if the school believes in punishment.”
Prasanna Murthy, a retired school teacher, highlighted the tragedy of teachers, “We do all of that-- asking them to redo their homeworks, asking them to get it the next day, letting them go sometime, but if they still don't listen to us, what are we supposed to do? We are just one teacher handling a whole class, every hour.”
Rise of Hate
When asked what effect does punishments have on children in the long run, Radhika Poovayya, a behavioral analyst said, “They will revolt. They will develop hatred for the teachers, the subjects, and the school as well. A school is supposed to inspire a student to be better, motivate him-- punishment does exactly the opposite."