The Effect of Zero Corporal Punishment Policy on elementary teachers – Sampled from Taoyuan County

• Main Authors: Chang Chih-Ying, 張之盈
• Other Authors: LI YU-FEN
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/74242198459329528802

碩士 === 國立臺東大學 === 公共與文化事務學系區域政策與發展研究碩士班 === 102 === This study investigated how primary school teachers in Taoyuan County viewed the policy of zero corporal punishment after the policy initiation and what they encountered in and after school. This is a qualitative research project using literature analysis and in-depth interviews. I sampled 12 interviewees from Taoyuan County. There are three different types of interviewees: principals, administrators, and teachers. The results of this study are summarized as follows: First, Taoyuan County elementary school teachers’ views on corporal punishment and no corporal punishment were studied. Respondents to the definitions and standards of corporal punishment were different, but basically agreed with the behavior that damage students’ body is corporal punishment. Also, the respondents have ever seen or heard corporal punishment related events in the field of education. The most common corporal punishment is time-out, transcribing text, and hitting hands. Most of the interviewees were opposed to corporal punishment. However, teachers result in different teaching strategies due to their different cognitions of corporal punishment. If the teacher’s right and complementary measures could be well defined, it may boost the implementation of zero corporal punishment in education. Second, the influences of zero corporal punishment policy on Taoyuan County elementary school teachers were investigated. Teachers nowadays not only take the initiative to seek help from other teachers or school guidance resources but also maintain good interaction with parents. This leads to the much closer relation between teachers and students. In addition, teachers have to strengthen their professional knowledge, develop diverse teaching strategies, and set up clear rules for students to follow. After the implementation of the policy of zero corporal punishment, the relationship between teachers and students became more harmonious and active. Students are the core part considered in education. There will be different interactions between teachers and parents majorly due to if they have the same education ideas and expectations. Third, the difficulties Taoyuan County elementary school teachers experienced in the implementation of the zero corporal punishment policy was explored. The implementation of the policy of zero corporal punishment led to considerable difficulties in disciplining because parents and teachers had conflicting ideas. In addition, the frontline teachers were prone to feelings of powerlessness frequently due to lack of experience in the student disciplines. Combining this factor with the lack of supporting measures and professional guides, the best results of the implementation is prevented. For research conclusions, the following recommendations were made: 1. For teachers: Teachers should enrich professional knowledge and strengthen the emotional management. Teachers need to maintain good communication with parents, enhance teacher-student relationship. Teachers make great use of different education resources and establish the "zero corporal punishment" discussion platform. Through that teachers exchange experiences with each other. 2. The school administrative units try their best actively caring teachers, and providing more workshops and conferences about the supporting measures of zero corporal punishment. 3. The Ministry of Education should develop the well-defined policies that focus on parental guidance of zero corporal punishment. They also need to truly work on downing size the classes.