Receiving corporal punishment, and in my earliest school days, a slap on the thigh, from female teachers is what first introduced me to this subject. Therefore, it seems only appropriate to bring another generation forward to continue our discussions. Please do not be deceived, Elaine; there were just as many strict disciplinarians among the women at my school. When some of those ladies took up the belt, they did so with considerable vigour. Thus, while abuse did contribute to the end of corporal punishment, in my experience, it was not a matter of gender.
I am grateful to Dominum for his thoughts on the possible return of corporal punishment to the school system. I believe it may return, but only within the independent sector. Ultimately, parental choice will prevail.
I am well known for my views on gender issues with respect to corporal punishment and have written extensively on the topic in other forums. However, I do believe that leaving the administration of corporal punishment solely to men is where the problems begin. Abuse of the system is where the decline started, and men were often at the centre of it. Women are, in my opinion, better suited to provide corporal punishment in a caring, albeit strict, manner. Even where men are the decision makers in single-sex schools, it would be preferable to have a female witness present to provide a stabilising influence.
May I inquire of Dominum how many female teachers are regular users of the cane at his school? In a previous correspondence, he indicated that the school matron occasionally witnesses punishments. Does he believe this is to provide the sort of protection and balance that I have mentioned?
Of approximately 110 teachers, about 50 are permitted to use the cane. The remainder have either not requested the authority or have not been granted it for various reasons. Of those 50, about 30 have chosen to do so at some point in the last three years.
Only 11 staff members make regular use of the cane, and only two of those are female.
The reason the matron is sometimes present relates primarily to practices developed in the early 1980s, when we became particularly concerned with ensuring our methods were beyond reproach. As part of our procedures, boys are entitled to three avenues of appeal should they wish to exercise them: they may appeal to me (or to the headmaster if I am the subject of the appeal), to a counsellor, or to the matron (or one of her deputies, should she be unavailable). The rationale for allowing appeals to the counsellor and the matron is that, in some cases, psychological or medical issues may be present that would make corporal punishment inappropriate, and a boy might feel more comfortable raising such matters with someone other than a teacher.
In cases where an appeal occurs and the person appealed to decides the punishment should proceed, they are then required to be present during the punishment to ensure the appeal is not held against the boy and that the punishment is not increased.
We also maintain a list of boys who should never be caned, and another list for whom caning should only be used in exceptional circumstances. The second list contains notations indicating that, in certain cases, the counsellor or matron should be present. This arises only occasionally; generally, if a boy’s name is on the second list with such a notation, he is not caned.
The only relevance this has to the issue you describe is that I would suspect a teacher who was abusing their authority in any sense would be more likely to trigger appeals.
We are now required to follow many procedures.
I understand that your school does not generally require a witness to be present when a caning is administered. What occurs when one of the two female teachers you mentioned canes a boy? Is a witness required in those instances?
We generally do not require a witness. We also do not place specific restrictions on female teachers, as that would potentially violate Equal Opportunity legislation. There are some exemptions concerning schools and Equal Opportunity, such as restricting access to changing rooms, but these have already been addressed. If an issue has not been addressed, we must assume that Equal Opportunity applies fully. I suspect that, if it ever reached the courts, an exemption would be granted, but we would prefer not to be involved in legal proceedings, even if vindicated.
We have considered the idea of mandatory witnesses at times, but have thus far decided against it, partly for logistical reasons, but also because the consensus among the boys is against witnesses being present.
Thank you for your prompt and illuminating response to my questions.
Your system has much to commend it.
A further observation, if I may, is to note that, upon appeal, those present at an official caning could vary considerably. I have always felt that a certain degree of maturity in these situations is essential. Surely, the matron’s assistants would be quite junior in age and status, and perhaps not the best assessors of what constitutes a fair and just caning. It may be, of course, that the matron herself is not the elderly lady one might expect. Also, the counsellors you mention may well be in the same category as the matron’s assistants.
Finally, could you tell us if the two regular female users of the cane are mature, experienced teachers? Knowing how your school has refined its methods over the years, I would expect them to be quite senior and to have your approval as cane users. How would you respond to a request by a much younger, inexperienced teacher wishing to use the cane? Would you refuse, thereby risking a violation of Equal Opportunity? Or would you provide training and assessment?
To clarify, are any of your female caners young and recently appointed, and, in the event that they are not, how would you approach the training of a young, newly qualified female teacher to administer corporal punishment?
I suggest you provide a thorough and considered reply.
And perhaps Elaine would like to consider the clarity of her own perspective on this matter.
To clarify, are any of your female caners young and recently appointed, and, in the event that they are not, how would you approach the training of a young, newly qualified female teacher to administer corporal punishment?
I suggest you provide a thorough and considered reply.
And perhaps Elaine would like to consider the clarity of her own perspective on this matter. While you may well be correct, I personally feel it is better practice to assume a person is honest and sincere in their correspondence until there is clear evidence to the contrary.
I would rather assume innocence and wait for proof of guilt, especially in cases such as this, where I see no potential for harm.
I believe you provide an interesting perspective by pointing out those about whom you have doubts, and you are probably correct in most cases. However, I prefer to take a different approach.
Yes, by all means, assume that people and their inquiries are genuine.
After all, not to do so would deny you the opportunity to answer their thoughtful questions.
Thank you for your prompt and illuminating response to my questions.
Your system has much to commend it.
A further observation, if I may, is to note that, upon appeal, those present at an official caning could vary considerably. I have always felt that a certain degree of maturity in these situations is essential. Surely, the matron’s assistants would be quite junior in age and status, and perhaps not the best assessors of what constitutes a fair and just caning. It may be, of course, that the matron herself is not the elderly lady one might expect. Also, the counsellors you mention may well be in the same category as the matron’s assistants.
Finally, could you tell us if the two regular female users of the cane are mature, experienced teachers? Knowing how your school has refined its methods over the years, I would expect them to be quite senior and to have your approval as cane users. How would you respond to a request by a much younger, inexperienced teacher wishing to use the cane? Would you refuse, thereby risking a violation of Equal Opportunity? Or would you provide training and assessment?
