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RESEARCH AND CHILDREN:Bangladesh
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Informal interviews with children about corporal punishment at school and home
Extract from paper compiled by Protection Section, UNICEF Bangladesh Country Office, September 1999
Taltola sweeper colony, near Tejgaon, Dhaka, 19 July 1999: Phulki's non-formal programme for school and non-school going children
Informal and unstructured interviews with a group of 11 'child leaders' who participate in Phulki's Child-to-Child Programme, ages 8-12 years, eight girls and three boys, enrolled in Classes 2-5). Interviewees: four children attending a government school, two attending NGO schools, two attending a private school, one attending a slum school (NGO) and two not attending school at all.
Informal discussion with the children about corporal punishment at schools and at home - responses:
Both boys and girls responded that they are treated equally by their teachers (no apparent gender discrimination). Several children said that they like female teachers more because they beat less than their male counterparts. "The teacher hits us with a cane, two-three times on our palms or shoulders, when we are naughty or we haven't done our homework," was a common response. Sometimes she pulls our ears or hair, or makes us put our head under the table for five minutes. Several girls mentioned that the teacher will put a pen between their fingers and squeeze their hands, which is painful for them. Girls responded that they are sometimes made to stand on the bench and hold their ears. If they don't do their homework, both boys and girls said they are occasionally sent home.
When asked how the teacher reacted when they misbehave or don't do their homework, the children said that they are normally made to stand on their bench and if they don't bring their work the following day, they are hit by their teacher.
When asked how they felt when they were punished, they said it hurts, that they "mentally feel bad" and that other students make fun of them when they are punished which is embarrassing.
When asked what form of discipline they would prefer (they all accepted that they should do their homework and behave in class), one girl replied that the teachers never ask them why they couldn't complete their homework. A boy replied that even if we tell the truth, the teachers don't believe us. Another boy said that he couldn't do his homework at home because his mother wanted/needed him to do other work. The children said it would be better if the teacher first tried to make them understand with love and affection before automatically hitting them. Interestingly, all the children said it was OK to be beaten.
When asked if the teacher ever talks to their parents when the students misbehave they all replied no, but that the teachers threaten to tell them. All the children said they didn't want their parents to be told because they will beat them.
When asked if the teachers ever met parents, they replied yes, but not officially.
When asked if the teachers ever practiced extreme forms of punishment, for example, anything that left a physical mark, the children replied that one boy they knew was hit so hard he had to stay home for one month to recover. The children said the boy was very naughty and that he often hit the other students. The teacher warned him several times but he didn't listen.
When the students were asked if they liked their teachers, they all said a "medium" amount and several said they really like them. Even if the teacher occasionally hits them, they said the teachers love the students. When asked if they did their homework more often because of the fear of being hit, all replied they did and because of that they tried to behave better. When asked if their parents ever hit them hard, most of the children said only lightly. One girl, however, replied that her mother beats her hard when she doesn't do her work, look after her siblings or when she is watching TV without her sister. She said she is embarrassed when her mother hits her. When asked if she knew if other parents treat their children the same way, she said she didn't know.
When asked which parent (mother or father) disciplined the children more often, the girls said their mother and one boy said his father. Another boy said his older sister usually punished him. All the children said they were more afraid of their mother if they did something wrong and many said their older siblings often discipline them.