Four reasons why physically punishing school children doesn’t work

Author lists four reasons why corporal punishment does not work. Studies included.

Context:

• Corporal punishment is institutional child abuse
• Multiple forms of violence in educational settings: symbolic, structural and physical

Issue at hand:

• Although forbidden in many countries only 53 countries ban corporal punishment formally (according to 2019 statistics)
• In many countries corporal punishment is used illegally
• Countries like Kenya there is increasing pressure to bring corporal punishment back to schools
• Research has shown that across gender, race and parenting styles, corporal punishment does not improve behavior, it makes it worse
• Overall, author concludes that “corporal punishment breaks young people and brutalizes them”

Why corporal punishment does not work

1. According to neurobiology, learning is an emotional matter
   • When the brain is in a state of panic due to fear, it cannot integrate information deeply
   • Although corporal punishment can to behavioral regulation, other more humane deterrents are sufficiently effective
2. With progressively severe levels of punishment to unwanted behaviors, escalation of physical punishment can become extremely dangerous
3. When physical punishment is set as a norm, forms of physical abuse can become mainstream
   • A 2014 study in Brazil found a positive correlation between incidents of bullying and violent discipline methods
   • Positive discipline and restorative practices are more likely to influence change than corporal punishments
4. Corporal punishment has long-term psychological effects
   • A 2021 study shows that spanking can have serious neurological effects on young people, similar to those endured after severe maltreatment