Hitting the Headlines--The Veil on Corporal Punishment in South Africa Lifted

• NCJ Number: 221596
• Journal: Acta Criminologica Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: 2004 Pages: 72-85
• Author(s): J. G. Maree; L. Cherian
• Date Published: 2004
• Length: 14 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: South Africa
• Note: Downloaded February 14, 2008; To access the full text PDF: 1) select the provided link; 2) from the Acta Criminologica Web site, select "Table of Contents"; 3) select the corresponding Volume and Issue (see the NCJRS abstract record for the exact Volume and Issue); 4) scroll the Table of Contents to the exact article; and 5) click on the "full text" icon

Annotation

This study examined the persistent evidence that corporal punishment is still widely practiced in South African public schools even though it has been prohibited since 1997.

Abstract

A survey of secondary school students found that "flogging" or "lashing," which is illegal, was routinely administered by classroom teachers. Almost all the students surveyed would like to see corporal punishment abolished. The study recommends that at a personal level, educators must be instructed in the adverse psychological harm and ineffectiveness of corporal punishment in promoting positive behaviors and attitudes among students. Also, the underlying causes of student misconduct must be identified and addressed with humane and proven strategies. This means that the concept of democratic discipline must be taught, accepted, and practiced by school personnel. Further, the development and implementation of a student and teacher code of conduct is critical. The study involved one school of Black students (41 boys and 28 girls); a school of Asian students (31 boys and 22 girls); and a school of White students (60 boys and 83 girls). A five-part questionnaire was developed based on a number of other studies. Items pertained to sociodemographic variables, punishment received and punishment recommended for specific types of misconduct in school, punishment actually used in school, self-reported frequency of misconduct, and attitudes and beliefs about the punishment of children. 9 tables and 35 references