Parents call for schools to bring back the cane

Educationalists say corporal punishment will not return despite support for move in new poll

A majority of parents want corporal punishment to be reintroduced in schools to tackle what they perceive is an increasing problem of classroom disorder, according to a poll published in January 2000. It showed that two-thirds of parents think discipline has declined over the past ten years, while only one in ten believe it has improved. Almost a quarter think disruptive and badly behaved children are the biggest problem facing schools - a higher proportion than those blaming poor teaching, overcrowding or lack of parental support.

The opinion poll showed 51% of parents think reintroduction of corporal punishment is the answer to the problem. Among working class parents 60% are in favour, but the proportion falls to 40% among middle class parents.

Corporal punishment was abolished 14 years ago in state schools and in the private sector last year. Teachers' leaders said there was no realistic chance of its reintroduction. David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "Parents might want to bring back the cane, but it is not a feasible option. I don't know any heads or teachers who want it and it would be in contravention of the European convention on human rights.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "Corporal punishment is off the agenda. It never worked. The discipline problem is a comment on society rather than on schools. Schools work within the context of what happens outside. Children have become less biddable and keeping good discipline in schools has become much harder for teachers."


Discipline or arbitrary violence?

For corporal punishment

Sir Rhodes Boyson, a former Conservative MP for Brent North and former headteacher:

"I was caned two or three times when I was at school for minor offences - I took my punishment and it seemed fair. As far as I am concerned, it is a good form of punishment for boys which instils a sense of discipline. Generally discipline in schools has deteriorated since it was taken away. If a boy gets away with violence at school he will continue to get away with it throughout his life unless he is punished. I think caning should be brought back to schools that want it so that parents can make up their own minds."

Against corporal punishment

Dick Davison, joint director of the Independent Schools Information Service:

"I was caned twice at school - more than 30 years ago - and I was struck by how arbitrary and unjust the whole thing was. I was first caned at the age of 12 for a fairly serious misdemeanour committed by someone else, who refused to own up. The headmaster decided to punish the class by quite 'decimating' us. Just like in the Roman army, which punished disgraced regiments by executing every 10th soldier on the roll, our headmaster chose to cane every seventh person on the register.

"I was unfortunate enough to be number eight on the register, so I was beaten. At the time I was greatly struck by the injustice of being punished for someone else's wrongdoing. The second time I received a caning was for a trivial offence my boarding school dormitory after lights out - which just seemed so pointless."