Jay-Z had a line "people don't get the picture to the weapons are drawn" and that is how I feel with these knuckleheads except there will be no weapons. :( I can't even make them stand up in the corner or do jumping jacks. WTF!!! Where have all the damn cowboys gone? Why the hell is everybody soft like tissue paper, or Miguel the singer? ( heeeey sugar)
Every now and then there comes a point in a child's life were they need to be taken out back and have their a** handed to them. A punch to their chest where they can't breathe for a good 10 seconds puts a lot of things into perspective. Not only does it solve the immediate problem but in the long term they are sure to think twice about stepping out of bounds. The only thing that might happen is that one of these dysfunctional kids might threaten to get their Dad buuut who am I kidding these motherf*ckers have not seen their Dad in years. Hell, they probably think they came from the stork! * giggles to self *
Having fear of somebody that will not think twice about knocking the snot out of you, laying The People's elbow, and then picking you up off the ground to give you homework is a great thing. It builds character and who does not need a little bit of that in their life?
What you're referring to, corporal punishment, is classical conditioning: strongly connoting a negative affect to negative behavior that, rather than helping them understand why behavior is bad for others, teaches them why doing something is directly bad for them. The issue with this form of punishment is that although it promotes self-preservation it fails to promote altruism or any form of universal understanding. Rather that creating a lesson learned over many years, it creates a single consolidated string of incidents that resonates with the child and tells them that a continual cycle of violence is acceptable. More than acceptable, it's viewed as the proper way to deal with not only their children but the world around them.
ReplyDeleteThe real issue you make very clear: their father figures are missing. You make the implication that the sole role a father plays in this scenario, or the role that is filled with corporal punishment, is that a father is meant to inflict violence when a child acts in a way that is perceived as inappropriate. In reality, the father's role, and a counseling role whether it be a teacher, summer camp counselor, or otherwise, is to garner respect not through fear but through being fucking radical. I learned this through being a science instructor and camp counselor for 8 years. Be the Renaissance Man and show them how awesome knowing things can be: show why learning material is interesting. Be something they want to be not because it's violent or powerful, but because it's resourceful and clever. Be a role model not a role barrier.
I'm not saying corporal punishment wouldn't work in the short run: it very easily puts kids in line. But keep in mind the term "carrot and stick" exists for a reason. Making them do jumping jacks won't cut it.
And, of course, my solution doesn't carry over to every scenario. The demeanor of inattentive disrespect is very much inculcated in kids who grew up in a bad environment. I agree that not having a father figure, or at least a role model that kids want to identify with from an early enough age, leads them down the path that frustrates you. But it's just that: your frustration. Excising one's own frustration on students will put a stop to their behavior in that class but it won't satiate their need for a more permanent role model. Just be radical, be Brantley.
This is a classic debate in disciplinary thought so I figured I'd give my two cents. I'd be totally cool in continuing this discussion because we clearly have different backgrounds in the teaching world, and that's what makes this argument so cool and interesting: we can make testimonial arguments from our own points of view. So, feel free to disagree with everything I said and tell me why ha ha.
Now, Shark in a Tuxedo:
http://jpatt.tumblr.com/post/907821645/sharkinatuxedo
J-Patt Out (and about)
LMAO...umm our teaching background is not as different as you think. This blog is more about shits and giggles or at least this particular post. You have a interesting point of view. Through my camp counselor years and my summer experience I have learned that every situation deserves to be looked at on case by case basis.
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