It’s never right to hit a child

Sir Frank Peters

Corporal punishment is fundamentally wrong, morally indefensible and legally it’s unjustifiable to impose violence on children.

Sir Frank Peters

Corporal punishment would have to be one of the most horrific acts a trusted friend such as a parent or teacher can perform upon a child.

It is, after all, fundamentally wrong, morally indefensible and legally unjustifiable to impose violence on children. It’s the cruellest… meanest… nastiest and totally indefensible act.

And, preposterously, some people attempt to sugar coat it and sacrilegiously claim it’s performed out of love! Yes, love. – Ha! That is glaringly foolish, absolutely absurd, and the offshoot of an ignorant mind.

How could that be love? How could beating another human being, especially a vulnerable defenceless child, be right in the eyes of Allah or man?

It’s against federal laws in ALL countries for an adult to hit a adult, but in many less educated and liberated countries children have little or no rights whatsoever and are considered to be ‘fair game’ for abuse. Corporal punishment – unquestionably – is undiluted, unadulterated child abuse.

Child abuse can be broadly categorised into physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental abuse, and neglect. Here the spotlight shines on physical abuse.

Children are subjected to corporal punishment in the home, workplace, and school seemingly without giving it much thought. It’s how their parents… and their parents before them dealt with matters that required discipline.

Oh, that’s the other mistake. The perpetrators white wash their crimes against humanity by labelling corporal punishment as discipline, but as Shakespeare once said: “A rose is a rose. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Things are what they are. Corporal punishment is not discipline.

Corporal punishment is a curse with its roots solidly planted in the dark ages. There weren’t the thousands of comprehensive, irrefutable university studies floating about, as there are today, to which parents and teachers could refer, recognize their shameful wrongdoings, and put them right.

Rabindrath Tagore, who abhorred corporal punishment and is Bengali’s answer to Britain’s writing genius William Shakespeare, once said: “Discipline is to teach not to punish.” (Shakespeare would most probably have said it too, if he had thought it!).   

The adage “spare the rod and spoil the child” which originated from the King James Version of the Bible (Book of Proverbs, 13:24) has been disgracefully complicit in the sufferings of countless millions of hapless children throughout the world. The belief being that if it’s recommended in the ‘holy’ book, then it must be right. Right?

True! ¬– But the interpretation is wrong. Sadly, the word ‘rod’ was incorrectly translated from its Hebrew origin (the language in which the Bible was written).

The modern day interpretation regards ‘rod’ as a stick or a pole, but in Hebrew the word “rod” has a completely different meaning. The word is used in Psalms 23:4, ‘thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.’

The shepherd’s rod/staff was/is used to ENCOURAGE, GUIDE, and DISCIPLINE the sheep towards taking a desired direction, NOT to beat, hurt, or damage them (and lower their market value).

The correct interpretation of the proverb, therefore, should read ‘spare good GUIDANCE and spoil the child’. Now that makes total sense.

When was it claimed or even suggested that Jesus or Muhammed beat children? – NEVER!

It’s a preposterous thought to even think they might conceive such a ghastly satanic idea that goes against all their principles, beliefs and loving teachings.

There are literally thousands of university studies relating to the effects of corporal punishment worldwide ¬– thousands! Libraries are full of them and not one – NOT ONE – promotes or condones corporal punishment to children.

Just pause for a moment and ask yourself how would you feel if your mum were to slap you on your face? You would instantly recoil and question if she loves you as she claims. Sadness, disappointment, and distrust would be among your most immediate reactions, and the chances are you would never forget the incident for the rest of your life. There are far more indelible scars caused by corporal punishment under the skin than there are on it.

Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal said:  “Children are one of the most vulnerable and weak groups in society that demands our protection. Physically hurting them in intolerable,” and he’s right.

Both teachers and parents have to act as guides (shepherds) to students and show them direction in life. They have to set a good example. Show them how to behave in a good manner and impart good values by example. If that were done many undesirable things that happen in society would stop.

What did prophets Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses have in common? They were all good teachers.

ALL children, without exception, are born pure. The broken water in which they emerged from the womb is Allah’s gift-wrapping.  The environment in which they then live shapes their character and their destiny.

The greatest contribution a teacher or parent can make to the world is not by highlighting their own academic qualifications, showcasing their gilt edged certificates or triumphs, and achievements, but by bringing to the surface and nurturing the best capable from those in their charge.

When the names of GOOD teachers are forgotten by most and the teachers are dead, their noble deeds will continue to flourish and inspire for eternity through different embodiments.

Such immortality is possible, but only to teachers who do not engage in corporal punishment.

It’s impossible to love where you cannot trust. The first casualty of corporal punishment is trust.

(Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, an award-winning writer, humanitarian, human rights activist Honorary Member of the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters and a foreign friend of Bangladesh.)