THE Jamaica Independent School Association (JISA) is calling for a shift in Jamaica’s cultural mindset as the country contemplates a full ban on corporal punishment in homes and schools.

In an online forum held Monday evening, geared at providing alternatives to corporal punishment, panellists insisted that Jamaicans have become accustomed to corporal punishment and this norm needs to be eradicated, as there are many negative effects that come with it.

“There is a tendency in our Jamaican culture to accept this kind of way to discipline, and much of the literature suggests that it might be coming from way back — this culture of beating — from our British colonial setting. Could it be that some of us are accepting because it is what we have come to learn about our history?” questioned Carlyn Stewart, region 2 director of the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA).

Stewart, who is also the board chair of Liberty Learning Centre — an independent school in Tower Isle, St Mary — has suggested that the situation is further compounded by views held by some members of the religious community.

“We are not getting the kind of response from certain people from the general public about the zero tolerance that we ought to have. It has been complicated now because a very important sector of our environment — perhaps not in all cases — but the Church sometimes has arguments that would want people to think that they support this type of ‘not sparing the rod’.

“I think that discussion in the wrong setting and with people who misunderstand that whole concept encourages this type of behaviour when we really ought not to have anything at all that encourages that. And so anything that we would have to do to change the mindset is going to take a cultural shift. It is going to take lots of discussions like this, but it is also going to take a change in the mindset,” she explained.

Another contributing factor to corporal punishment, as expressed by the panellists, is that many parents tend to punish their children in the same manner in which they were treated when they were young.

“There are people who love to tell us about ‘Oh, when I was little, it used to happen to me and I grew up all the better,’ but the truth is we have to take the bull by the horn, especially as educators,” Stewart said.

For guidance counsellor Warren White, he believes the adage “it takes a village to raise a child” also has negative implications.

“Different members of a community spanked a child. It’s a learnt behaviour, and once a learnt behaviour, it can be unlearnt. Looking back at it, it is a lack of communication and understanding…It intends to harm; corporal punishment involves physical force with the intention of causing some degree of pain. The intention is for them [children] to feel pain so that they can change the behaviour. Fear acts as a holding measure, but it does not liberate or change the behaviour,” he shared.

Dr Alicia Ashman-Waugh of El Instituto de Mandevilla added that “one of the things that drove corporal punishment is that children are to be seen and not be heard…Corporal punishment was very well accepted at the primary school level — that we can get a spanking, a lashing, a caning in any form. It was on a mass scale where everybody could get a spanking for the whole class.”

The panellists have called stakeholders to rethink the way discipline is administered and apply alternative forms of punishment.

“Our children are doing more, earlier, and faster. And so parents, teachers, school leaders — all of us that are involved in that ecosystem of developing our nation’s children, our own children, our greatest assets — we are forced to rethink how we discipline them, how we nurture them, how we teach them,” said Tamar McKenzie, president of JISA.

Stewart echoed similar sentiments.

“The parents need to know too, but we have to lead the charge. Educators have to be definite about our statement: ‘It ought not to happen.’ We are not saying to parents and teachers don’t flog, but in the absence of this flogging that you think is going to work miracles, try this. The truth is, corporal punishment is a quick alternative; it doesn’t take any time to throw something, grab out a belt, drive fear into children. Anything else is going to take patience, it’s gonna take thinking through, it’s gonna take consistency; and sometimes, we adults think we don’t have the time for that. But if we put in the time, then it will get easier. But a cultural shift needs to happen and we have to keep pushing the alternatives, so that our parents and teachers don’t feel like we’ve just pushed them into the open,” she emphasised.

Ashman-Waugh is an advocate for “a space where our children can have conversations, ask questions, where they can explain and exchange perspectives with adults”.

“Creating these alternates, bringing awareness to these alternatives, and pushing those alternatives; also providing the guidance and the support. There is something to be said about the emotional intelligence of our teachers and parents,” she said.

However, Marshalee Johnson, who contributed via the chat option, disagreed with some of the thoughts expressed by some of the panellists.

“If I understand what Ms Carolyn Stewart is saying, corporal punishment is unacceptable and wrong. What has led you to take this stance? What literature are you using to support your views? Much of what you and Mr White have said is anecdotal,” she commented.

In his response, White cited the United Nations Convention of the Child, which Jamaica ratified in 1991. “Children have the right to be protected from all forms of physical and mental violence. Once you try to harm a child, that is not accepted. There is also the Jamaica legal framework. Currently, Jamaica allows corporal punishment in homes and schools; however, there are ongoing efforts to reform the laws to align with global standards. Many children would have lost their lives from [being] beaten. We have seen it on social media — on
TikTok. That is not punishment; that is killing our children,” he indicated.

Ashman-Waugh added that it is important for parents and teachers to assess the options they use to discipline children because they can have lasting psychological effects.

“Why is this my measure for punishment? What am I trying to achieve? This mode of punishment, is it achieving what I want to see in my student or child? Use positive reinforcement. If we have five or 10 options, isn’t it better to choose the option from which the child benefits the most? The alternatives produce much better results. When a child is slapped, it dehumanises the child…It lowers the self-esteem of our children. If they can receive it at the hands of the persons who are supposed to love and care then am I even worthy?…Children question if they belong…It leads to trauma, depression and other psychological effects on our children,” she underscored.

Notwithstanding, another participant Sheldon Brown, who spoke passionately, insisted that some of these alternative measures are not applicable to today’s society.

“I was not a child who grew up on beating…The term corporal punishment is to cause pain. There is a difference between discipline and abuse. I am listening to these panellists and I am wondering for these alternatives that they are talking about, in which countries do they work? If what the prime minister and others are saying is true, then my generation should be more violent. So I am not sure how in 2024, we are having this discussion about correcting a child,” he questioned.

“I think we should change the word corporal punishment to discipline, but not abuse. My generation should be more violent, but none of my friends are in any wrong; none have killed themselves; none have killed anyone,” he noted.

Citing Proverbs 23:13-14 which says, “Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell,” Brown pointed to countries like the United States and United Kingdom where “students are not being corrected”.

“Don’t beat a child without letting them know why. There are consequences for actions. Some of these strategies like putting a child in a corner doesn’t work. Because when you start to become an adult now, the police gonna meet you outta road. Do we see where they are getting worse? Children are behaving the worse in school now and they are not being blamed,” he said.

In refuting his point, White quickly pulled for Ephesians 6:4 which says, “Fathers do not exasperate your children…” and Colossians 3:23 that reads, “Fathers do not embitter your children…,” suggesting that “the rod does not have to be physical as the
Bible is a symbolic book.”

“Corporal punishment is intentional for the child to feel discomfort and pain. You don’t have to use physical force, which harms our children, so that they learn. An alternative is that you take away that device [phone, laptop, tablet]. Take away the privilege because their device is not a right but a privilege. That can send a message to the child that you have to complete your tasks,” he reasoned.

For attendee Orcid Smith, moderation and a combination of both is the best approach.

As he noted, “Who He love loveth, He chastens. And chastens can mean restrains…It is important to guide our students in the right way, while we don’t have to use the big-stick approach, and we need not inflict physical punishment on them…we have to implement the strategies to help our students understand that certain behaviours are mild, certain are difficult, to help them grow up in the right way.”

In adding her voice, Caron Bernal-Rose, a parent, said, “I understand the challenges of navigating disciplinary issues without resorting to physical punishment; however, we have also seen first-hand the positive outcomes that arise when we use alternative approaches, rooted in communication, exercising empathy and understanding towards our children.”

In closing, JISA’s President Tamar McKenzie told the audience that “the success of our children, especially in the state of navigating discipline, depends on all of us; the standard we hold as a collective, the messaging that we communicate to them in our homes, in our schools, and the inclusiveness of the policies that we’ll be setting up.”

The forum, titled Discipline Without Harm: Rethinking Corporal Punishment in Jamaican Homes and Schools, was attended by more than 100 participants, many of whom praised the efforts and called for ongoing dialogue.