“SPARE THE ROD AND SPOIL THE CHILD” - IS CORPORAL PUNISHMENT MORALLY AND LEGALLY JUSTIFIED IN UGANDAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS? A CASE OF GULU DISTRICT.

Abstract

Spare the rod and spoil the child’ has been a philosophy of child rearing strongly held by both professionals

and laymen. Corporal punishment in schools is not only a Ugandan problem but is a worldwide problem as

well. The theory that corporal punishment is used as a disciplinary method to change behavior – “spare the rod

and spoil the child” - cannot be condoned any more in this 21st century when children’s rights are regulated

by conventions and national laws. Children subjected to corporal punishment suffer from lowered self-esteem,

clinical depression and suicidal ideation, all so that teachers can instill fear and artificial control.

Aside from the negative psychological effects, the use of corporal punishment has negative implications as it

teaches children that it is acceptable and sometimes necessary to solve problems using violence. With that said,

school administrators, teachers, and all persons who work with young people instill high levels of moral capaci

ties and obedience onto children only for them to grow up into a world that applies force and violence at every

nonconforming moment. Corporal punishment is wrong, but the hypocrisy in the Ugandan culture on the issue

drives a wedge in the progress towards eliminating the vice. This study sought to highlight the negative social/

psychological long term effects of corporal punishment and what can be done to wean out the vice in schools.