| Summary: | Discipline and disciplinary measures in South African public schools are regarded as
one of the principal concerns expressed by all stakeholders in the educational process.
A study conducted by Thompson (2002:7) suggested a complete breakdown in
discipline at primary and secondary schools in South Africa. Disciplinary problems in
South African schools range from physical violence, vandalism, verbal abuse,
disobedience, assaults, theft, threats, disrespect for authority, violation of the schools'
code of conduct, gambling, truancy, gangsterism, rape, alcohol abuse and even murder
in and around school premises (Nthite, 2006:3; Fourie, 2006:8). These misdemeanours
greatly increased after government abolished corporal punishment in schools. The
question therefore arises: Are these misbehaviours merely coincidental? Most
educators and principals seem to agree that the authority of educators has, to a large
extent, declined due to the abolition of corporal punishment and the reluctance of
government officials to deal firmly with the offenders. This is confirmed by Morrel
(2003:292) who maintains that discipline has become a serious concern since effective
alternatives were not readily available with the banning of corporal punishment in 1996.
The abolition of corporal punishment and the resultant poor discipline in schools, as well
as learners not considering teaching as a possible profession (Park, 2006:154)
sensitised the researcher to the seriousness of the problem. Being a high school
teacher himself for many years, the researcher was concerned about the poor levels of
respect shown to teachers by the learners, as well as the ill discipline which contributed
to unpleasant working conditions, prompted the researcher to undertake this study. This
study therefore, investigated the influence that corporal punishment and other
disciplinary measures had on the teaching and learning fraternity.
In conducting this study, the survey method was used. Literature review consisted of
both primary and secondary sources, while questionnaires and interviews were used to
gather information from learners, educators, principals/deputy principals as well as
parents/SGB members. The population and sample size for the study was drawn from
schools in the Mafikeng, Vryburg and ltsoseng areas of the North West Province of
South Africa. The investigation involved 400 learners, 100 educators, 20
principals/deputy principals and 60 parents/SGB members. The response rate ultimately
was 90% as two schools did not return the questionnaires, while the response rate from
the parents/SGB members was 100%.The researcher was guided by the post positivist
approach to data analysis and the data collected was subjected mainly to quantitative
analysis, but the qualitative approach was also used.
Four empirical hypotheses were tested and the first three results showed no significant
relationship between the dependent variable (academic achievement,
teaching/learning environment, misdemeanours) and the independent variables
(teacher authority, abolition of corporal punishment}, while the fourth indicated a
significant relationship between motivation and abolition of corporal punishment using
the Chi- Square and Pearson Coefficient Correlation tests respectively.
The findings of the study revealed that 61% of learners and educators were sceptical
about using corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure and strongly believed that
the reintroduction of corporal punishment will retard progress. The findings further
indicated that 60% of the parents/8GB members were in favour of the reintroduction of
corporal punishment as a means of disciplining students at school. The results of this
study also pointed out that the abolition of corporal punishment did not diminish the
morale and motivation of educators. In view of the find ings, this study highly
recommended:• The use of alternative interaction techniques which could contribute to
better understanding of learners such as giving them advice and curtailing their
allowance and perks, rather than applying the traditional punitive measures.
• Teachers could use the detention method and place students in isolation for few
hours,failing which, the use of physical (corporal) punishment in a very controlled
way where permission of the parents concerned is obtained before resorting to
any physical beating.
Research conducted by Lessing & Dreyer (2007:128) showed that using these
alternative interaction techniques had a more pleasant impact on the teaching-learning
environment than the use of any other technique. Teachers were quick to realise that a
positive approach to ill discipline encourages good classroom behaviour. === Thesis (PhD (Educational Psychology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2012
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