Stop Caning Your Child �Teachers, Parents Told

Parents and guardians have been cautioned against caning their children and wards as a mechanism of disciplining them because it “does not facilitate learning.”

They are, however, urged to instead set boundaries for their children and discipline them with love so that they do not see violence as an acceptable way of handling conflict.

The Girls Education Coordinator at the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Directorate of Education, Rev. Mrs. Hannah Odjenma Botchway made this known at the fifth graduation ceremony of Benabi Academy at Baatsonaa, a suburb of Accra.

Speaking on the theme, ‘The Role of Parents in Maintaining a Disciplined Child,’ the coordinator said, the use of physical force on the child will hinder his development and compassion for others.

“My dear parents, let me remind you that disciplining children by spanking does not facilitate learning. Instead, it may halt the unwanted behavior while the child is in the adult’s presence, or it may scare a child into submission,” she pointed out.

She intimated that, “While it may teach a child what not to do, it fails to teach a child what is expected of him or her and what is an alternative behavior.”

Rev. Mrs. Botchway said, “As tempting as it may be, I would urge you not to resort to physical discipline when frustrated or without other resource. Spanking in these circumstances may lead to an unintentional injury or more serious abuse.”

Demonstrating what physical discipline could cause to a child, she said it increases anxiety and fear in the child, as well as making children angry in response. She added that, the phenomenon also heightens aggression of the child towards others and decreases compliance and increases resistance.

She further stated that physical discipline harms a child’s relationship with parents or caregiver, “potentially causes unintended and severe physical injury, decreases self-esteem, increases the probability for an array of undesirable social and psychological behaviours and teaches that violence is acceptable way to handle conflicts.”

The headmaster of the school, Prosper Kwao said, education is a right of all children around which their survival, protection, development and participation of activities revolve.

While touching on various definitions of education as provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund, he said education, “places a lot of responsibility on parents and teachers to do their maximum best in delivering quality education to our children.

“Indeed the school system works effectively with children who enter with the kind of readiness for success in school and can only be provided by supportive parents.”

Mr. Kwao entreated parents to continue to support the education of their children “through the provision of all school supplies, supervision of children’s academic work at home and the kind of TV programmes they watch.”

Authorities seized the opportunity of the graduation to outdoor a science laboratory, a girl’s education club, new school uniforms and a brass band. The gathering was entertained with drama, choreography, taekwondo display and cultural activities.

The chairman of the event was Philip Akoto, head of operations, vehicle assembling plant, a subsidiary of Zoomlion Ghana Limited. A total of 17 pupils graduated to the next stage of their education.