NCJ Number
58787
Date Published
1978
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THE VALIDITY OF THE COMMON ASSERTIONS THAT CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN THE SCHOOLS ARE (1) MODERN PHENOMENA AND (2) THE CONSEQUENCES OF RELAXED DISCIPLINE IS QUESTIONED.
Abstract
THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A 'CRISIS OF DISCIPLINE' IN SCHOOLS, AT LEAST SINCE THE MIDDLE AGES, WHEN THE CONCEPT OF CHILDHOOD EMERGED AND ADULTS BEGAN TREATING CHILDREN AS A SEPARATE CLASS. AS THE CONCEPT DEVELOPED OVER THE CENTURIES, TEACHERS RESORTED TO INGENIOUS PHYSICAL HUMILIATION AND PUNISHMENT TO ASSERT THEIR OWN STATUS. THE MOST VISIBLE AND SERIOUS STUDENT DISRUPTIONS OCCURRED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE MASSIVE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, INSISTENCE ON IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE, MAINTENANCE OF RIGID RULES, AND REQUIREMENTS THAT STUDENTS LEARN ENDLESS MATERIAL BY ROTE. THROUGH THE 19TH CENTURY, SCHOOLS TRADITIONALLY WERE PLACES OF VIOLENCE, WHERE TEACHERS SEVERLY CORPORALLY PUNISHED THEIR STUDENTS, AND WHERE STUDENTS FREQUENTLY ROSE UP IN REBELLION, RIOTS, AND MUTINIES. IN COMPARISON, THE 20TH CENTURY HAS SEEN A GREAT REDUCTION IN THE USE OF SEVERE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT (ALTHOUGH IT IS STILL WIDELY USED), WITHOUT A COMPARABLE INCREASE IN SCHOOL VIOLENCE. ALTHOUGH SOCIETY HAS LIMITED THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN THE SCHOOLS AND LOOSENED THE RULES GOVERNING STUDENT BEHAVIOR, IT SIMULTANEOUSLY HAS MOVED TO KEEP CHILDREN IN CHILDHOOD FOR A MUCH LONGER PERIOD THAN EVER BEFORE. THE CONSEQUENCE IS THAT CRISES OF AUTHORITY (ADULT VS. CHILD, PARENT VS. CHILD, TEACHER VS. PUPIL) ARE BOUND TO BECOME MORE ACCENTUATED, AND STUDENT DISRUPTIONS WILL CONTINUE DESPITE LIBERALIZATION OF DISCIPLINARY PRACTICES. SOCIETY WILL HAVE TO LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE 'CRISIS' IN THE SCHOOLS, BECAUSE LIKE CRIME, ILLNESS, AND POLLUTION, IT IS PART OF THE SOCIAL ORDER. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT PROGRESS CANNOT BE MADE, AS IS EVIDENCED BY THE MARKED DECREASE IN ABUSIVE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT AND IN GENERALLY DEBILITATING WAYS OF TREATING CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)