THE IMPACT OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ON STUDENTS IN PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED BOYS SCHOOLS IN DISTRICT MULTAN
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Date
2009
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Department Of Sociology, University Of Peshawar
Abstract
The study was conducted on investigating the impacts of corporal punishment with
major emphasis on its nature, kinds and effects on students, including social, academic,
educational, psychological, legal and medical aspects. To ascertain the effects of corporal
punishment, the participants of the study comprising students, teachers and parents were
interviewed through questionnaire and interview schedule. Major objectives of the study were
to investigate into the nature, kinds and motives of physical punishment against students in
sampled district; to identify multidimensional effects of corporal punishment on the students
from educational and academic perspectives to social, academic, educational, psychological,
legal and medical aspects.; to investigate the teachers and parents' viewpoint on corporal
punishment of students at schools and to seek the opinion of the victimized students on use of
corporal punishment. The total sample size from students, teachers and parents was 607. The
data was analyzed at both uni-variate and bi-variate level while calculating frequency,
percentage and Chi - square test respectively. It was found that corporal punishment remained
a hurdle in developing good teacher - student relationship; it led to destroying students’
character building; increased dropout rate; discouraged the learning environment; created
hatred for teachers; impaired interest in study; and compelled students to leave school before
the day ended. Moreover, it was observed that corporal punishment became the major cause
for creating aggressive attitudes and quarrelsome behaviors among the students; it badly
affected children’ morality; it led children to use alcohol and other drugs; made them
vulnerable to sexual abuse. Academic achievements got lowered in their respective
examinations in the view of constant absenteeism from school. Furthermore, corporal
punishment depressed students’ feeling of sympathy.