Educator Ramasamy picks a bone with PMX over endorsement of regulated school caning

 

IT IS unimaginable that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim suggests canning in schools under strict rules.

Anwar might have previously been a teacher before who might have wielded the cane against naughty pupils.

Unfortunately, this was before when there was a consensus among teachers, headmasters and parents that cane could be used to discipline students.

The use of cane was congruent with the past but unfortunately not now when the general level of education and awareness have increased among parents, teachers and schools’ authorities.

I am sure parents will think twice or thrice in giving consent to the use of cane. It is strange that when the country is moving forward in the disuse of the mandatory death penalty and other forms of inhuman punishments, Anwar has the temerity to suggest the use of cane in disciplining students.

What about the reliance on the social science in particular psychology about correcting the behaviour of students?

‘Caning is barbaric’

I understand most of teachers and headmasters as well as government educational personnel are graduates from local and foreign universities.

Some of them might have post-graduate qualifications. Academic qualifications in education requires an understanding of why pupils are engaged in activities that are detrimental to other pupils.

Canning students merely frightens them from repeating their mistakes rather than understanding why they should not repeat the earlier mistakes.

In short, canning is the most undemocratic way to instil discipline among pupils. As young children, naughtiness is part and parcel of growing up. To enforce compliance through the “barbaric” method of canning is something uncalled for.

Anwar might have qualified his remark on the permissibility of canning as his personal opinion.

Unfortunately, when the PM of the country makes a statement on canning – personal or not – such an idea has the proclivity to creep surreptitiously into the domain of public policy.

‘Psychological approach more superior’

It was premature on the part of Anwar to give his personal opinion on the matter when the matter of indiscipline in school is being debated in the country.

Yes, Anwar might have been caned during his school days decades ago. He even admitted that he had caned a number of pupils when he was the teacher.

But punishments meted out in disciplining pupils are not frozen in time and space. Political, social, economic and other changes over a period of time determine the appropriateness of punishment.

It is generally admitted that psychological approach to indiscipline is far superior to the physical attempts.

In this respect, Anwar might be the PM and a good politician but unfortunately, he lacks the skills and talents to talk about indiscipline in schools let alone advocate physical punishment on pupils.

Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy

Anwar’s sycophant Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek – recovering from the opposition to her – lacks the credentials and dynamism to provide a good and visionary leadership in the educational realm.

Anwar knows that there are writings on the wall for her removal but family ties prevent him from taking what might be a popular decision.

Some in the DAP are supportive of Anwar’s opinion on the need for canning not because of anything else but due to their extreme subservience to the latter.

I urge Anwar to rescind his personal opinion on the need for canning simply because it might be seen to be pandering to those with vested interests.

Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.

The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.

- Focus Malaysia.