Discipline issues

20somethings say 'six of the best' would curb unruly pupils
By Alexandra Frean, Social Affairs Correspondent

FOR generations of school children the threat of receiving “six of the best” from the headmaster’s cane unleashed an emotional tidal wave of resentment and fear. But now the generation that has been spared the rod wants it back for its own children.

Seventeen years after beatings were banned in state schools and five years after private schools were brought into line, 47 per cent of 18 to 30-year-olds, who were never caned or slippered at school themselves, say they think that society would benefit from the reintroduction of the cane as a “punishment of last resort”.

The survey found a big gender gap on attitudes to corporal punishment amongst both genders and classes. 54 per cent of men support its reintroduction compared to 39 per cent of women. Having children appeared to make no difference to the views held. 46 per cent of those with children were in favour of corporal punishment compared with 47 per cent of those without.
The proposal has found support in some surprising areas. Ralph Woodling, 26, who has just started a teaching course at Cambridge University said the cane “certainly has its place”. “I think it should be used as a preventative measure,” he said. “Not just for someone who hasn’t done his homework, he needs encouragement for that, but if he’s done something naughty then it should be used. “I was given the slipper seven times as a boy and I feel that those who didn’t get it are a little bit cheekier. I also think it shouldn’t be just for the young but it should be used up to the age of 18,” he added.

The finding was greeted with surprise by teaching unions, who insisted the notion would find no support among policy makers or teachers.
But most accepted that the level of support for the return of the cane and the slipper was a reflection of widespread anxiety about deteriorating levels of behaviour within and outside the school gates. Teachers now cite poor behaviour as the biggest single obstacle to their work, according to research published last week by the Times Educational Supplement. Separate research published by the Government shows that 62,000 pupils were permanently or temporarily excluded from school during the summer term of 2003, 17,000 of whom were disciplined for attacking teachers or fellow pupils.

Phil Williamson, head of the Christian Fellowship School in Liverpool, whose legal challenge to bring back the cane in his school will reach the House of Lords in December, said: “A lot of those who want corporal punishment reintroduced will have been in a situation where the unruly pupils in their class really have ruled the roost and spoiled it for the majority of the others who want to get on with their learning,” he said. The alternatives of excluding or suspending unruly pupils did not work, Mr Williamson said. “They merely shift the problem elsewhere.”

David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said that the poll finding reflected the fact that the younger generations were thoroughly fed up with bad behaviour and indiscipline and were casting about for solutions: “The younger generation is saying what you might expect the older generation to day,” he said.

Jonathan Dunford general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said that corporal punishment clearly did not work. “When I became a headteacher I found an old punishment book and the first thing I noticed was the frequency with which the same names cropped up in it. It obviously did not act as a deterrent,” he said.


The Times September 13, 2004