This is a presentation delivered at the Caribbean Studies Association Conference in 2010 (Barbados) around the issue of corporal punishment of children

1. CSA Conference - 2010
Sparing the Rod and nurturing the child : Caribbean Culture and
violence against children
Presenter : Vidyaratha Kissoon - Guyana

2. “stupes, ..”

“Corporal punishment” as one of the
everyday experiences of violence for
Caribbean children?

Reflecting on the work of Help & Shelter,
Red Thread

Can, when, how will we change?

3. “..the judicious use of corporal punishment ,
not abuse..”
Corporal punishment refers to the intentional application of
physical pain as a method of changing behavior. It
includes a wide variety of methods such as hitting,
slapping, spanking, whipping, flogging, ‘blowsing’,
punching, kicking, pinching, shaking, choking, use of
various objects (belts, sticks, whips, rulers, pins, or
others), painful body postures, or prevention of urine or
stool elimination. These acts are usually perpetrated by
adults or older children against younger children.
Help & Shelter Draft Child Protection Policy

4. “y'all want we get like america...”

Red Thread , Help & Shelter work in pilot schools
− http://www.hands.org.gy/cpreport
− UNICEF
− Teachers, parents, students

Help & Shelter Pickney Project
− http://www.hands.org.gy/pickney
− Everychild Guyana /Childlink
− Faith based leaders, parents, teachers, nurses,
police

5. “.. a last resort in our schools..”

Parents, teachers and students are
overwhelmingly in favour of retaining CP

CP is not considered to be violence against
children

Urban areas are more flexible with respect to
removing CP from schools

There is strong belief among parents and
students that younger teachers are more likely to
resort to CP and to administer CP more often
than older teachers

6. “..culturally appropriate..”

There is also strong belief among parents, teachers and students that female
teachers are more likely to resort to CP and to administer CP more often than
male teachers

There is incongruence between a belief that CP is an acceptable form of
discipline and the negative feelings of sadness and guilt felt by parents and
teachers when administering CP and by children when they are receiving CP.

There is also incongruence between a belief that CP is an acceptable form of
discipline and responses from teachers that indicate that they do not believe
CP is the most effective form of discipline, or that it improves lasting
behaviour change and pupil performance. Teachers also indicate that it
causes physical and emotional harm.

Teachers do not follow the Ministry’s disciplinary guidelines. They routinely
administer CP in the classroom.

7. “Towards a Culture of Peace and Civility”

Trinidad & Tobago
− Minister Peraud-Bissessar, Prof Deosarran,
Minister Manning, Merle Hodge, ?

Barbados
− Chief Education Officer, 2009 report

Guyana
− 1947, 2007 attempts
− Universal Periodic Review recommendations
− Not explicit in violence prevention projects

8. “.. every time I get licks, I merit it..”

The issue of power – getting satisfaction

Licks bunnin and coolin'

What about those who don't want licks?

How valid is this view?

“She used Caesar..I can still see him
crying, washing the blood off, his shirt wet
with his tears and I wanting to cry..”

9. “..It was good. I thought I could not learn more about parenting. I realize what
should be done. I got a better view of children’s life. Most people think their way
is the way. Also gave insight on treatment of children ..”

Self Esteem

The four-petal seven-shaper model of self

Early childhood development

Why children get licks and the real reason why children
get licks

Alternative methods of discipline

Dos and Don’ts of parenting

Reinforcing the good things about Caribbean family life

10. “..workshop opened new ideas and methods on how I
will do things..s
• “Very informative and I learnt a lot. Parenting is not just giving
birth.”
• “I thought the only necessity was preaching until I come here.
When I have my children I will know what to do”
• “Good to hear each other’s situation; we opened, we shared, we felt
comfortable. I did not know it all; how to deal with my children.
We will take this back to our churches. We can be bold enough to
speak to parents. Thank God I am here.”
• “The timing was perfect to be informed us all of a new
methodology of parenting. I will no longer drive fear in my
children. Over these days I have stopped ‘shutting my daughter
up’; I am giving her a chance to speak.”

11. “Sparing the rod..”

Can we change?
– Research hypotheses
– Compare to Gender Based Violence and Domestic
Violence work

Education/Awareness

Law

Religion

Culture

Individual education

12. “Nurturing the child..”

When will we change?
− Peace building work
− No imperial mandates

How will we change?
− Policy of non-violent discipline in schools
− Changing our laws
− Promoting parenting education

with pre-parents

With parents

With children

13. Thank you!

CSA 2010

Nalini Mohabir

Justin Springer

KP