Corporal
punishments is the intentional physical infliction of pain especially through spanking, hitting,slapping,pinching
or painful postures such as kneeling as as way of changing behavior.In schools such
punishments is mostly administered through the use if cane and is aimed at correcting misconduct or turning a child's focus or attention back towards their studies.
Popular belief,especially the African countries,is that corporal punishments will cause pain that will deter children from performing a forbidden action or act as an atonement for a certain misconduct.In addition to instilling discipline it is thought to ensure that the pupil or student excel in not only their academic activities but also in their extracurricular ones.Fear of the cane guarantees that lazy
students have no alternative but to stay focused.
However,despite its good intention,corporal punishmnments as away of instilling discipline in students,has a negative impact.Some of the reasons given agaibnst this form of punishment are the raising cases of abuse by teachers of this responsibility.Serious injuries on students and in some cases death has occurred in the process of giving corporal punishments in schools.In other cases corporal punishments has been seen to lead to the decline of self esteem or self confidence in students,compromising the development of social skills.The violent nature of administration of corporal punishments alsioo encourages students to see violence as an acceptable form of behaviour in society.This mode of punishment does not have proper psychological rehabilitative effect on the child,meaning that it lacks the proper means of ensuring that the child understands what he/she has done wrong and most importantly the best way they correct their behavior.
It is for this reason among many others that corporal punishments in schools in Kenya has been banned.In Kenya,the children act 2001 helps to protect children from corporal punishments and many other atrocities against children.Section13 of the act protects the children from such physical abuse.It is also important to note that the law provides that any child subjected to such treatment should be given proper treatment and rehabilitation in accordance with the regulations.Section 18 of this act also protects children from corporal punishments.It is therefore essential to understand that whenever such right is violated,the lawful measure to take is that the adult on behalf of the child apply a court redress.
Those against the re-introduction of corporal punishments say that lifting the ban is a violation of Human Rights.Human Rights are universal and equal to individuals everywhere.They are a privilege you gain by virtue of being human.They advocate for the freedom against physical torture and children are entitled to these rights as well.