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By Mark DaCosta- The Village Voice News is known – quite accurately – as a publication that does not shy away from controversial topics, nor does it hesitate to take morally correct positions, even if those positions are unpopular. One example of that fact is the position taken in a recent editorial captioned, “Corporal Punishment is Child Abuse.” That position is not popular in Guyana; most Guyanese think it is okay to beat, bruise, and batter children. But, violence of any kind – particularly against a defenceless child is just not acceptable.
The editorial states that, “Corporal punishment has been found to be exceedingly harmful to children. Direct and statistically indisputable links have been found between corporal punishment and mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, personality disorders, and substance abuse when those children grow up.” This article supports the editorial’s call for the abolition of legalised violence against children in Guyana.
In response to the editorial, some Guyanese said that, “I was beaten as a child, and look how I turned out good and okay.” Some may counter: “No, you did not turn out okay; you turned into a violent adult who believes that beating up a child is perfectly alright. You are NOT okay.”
The evidence of the ineffectiveness of child beating – also called corporal punishment as a form of corrective discipline – is overwhelming.
Guyanese psychologist Caitlin Viera wrote the following:
“Research shows that hitting a child when they do something wrong does have an instant effect on whether they may or may not do it again at that very moment. The key word there is MAY, as hitting children does not teach them right from wrong in any sense of the narrative. They may not repeat the behaviour that very second in your presence, but they will again another time.
“There is an important difference between children fearing you and respecting you. If they fear you, they may not repeat the behaviour in front of you, simply because they fear the physical punishment. However, if you healthily communicate to them why it is right from wrong, they will respect you enough not to repeat the behaviour. Yes, it is better to teach children healthy ways to resolve conflict.”
In Guyana, in 2018, corporal punishment in penal institutions was made illegal. This fact may reasonably be interpreted to mean that authorities in Guyana recognise and acknowledge that child beating is wrong. Unfortunately, that same form of child abuse is still legal in homes. That fact makes absolutely no sense. Government knows it is wrong, and has outlawed the practice in one section of Guyanese society, but still allows the same horrific practice in the larger society.
Regarding the action taken in 2018, the advocacy group End Corporal Punishment released a report that stated the following:
“In June 2018, Guyana enacted the Juvenile Justice Act 2018 to prohibit all corporal punishment of children in penal institutions and as a sentence for a crime.
Article 92 of the Act states:
(1) Any juvenile who breaches the rules of a facility may be disciplined on the instruction of the Principal of the facility in a way that is both reasonable and within the prescribed limits …
(3) The following forms of discipline are prohibited – (a) corporal punishment or any other form of physical violence; (b) deprivation of food or drink; (c) treatment that is cruel, inhuman or degrading; (d) treatment that could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing of the juvenile; or (e) deprivation of access to educational instruction.”
It is acknowledged that some religious and spiritual beliefs endorse child beating, however it should be pointed out that some religious and spiritual beliefs also called for stoning women for “committing adultery,” and cutting off the hands of thieves. And we certainly do not do such things in Guyana. We consider ourselves to be “civilised.”
In 2019 the American Psychological Association (APA) adopted a new policy dealing with the ineffectiveness and dangers of physical discipline against children to raise awareness among parents, caregivers and mental health professionals.
The Resolution on Physical Discipline of Children By Parents, adopted by APA’s Council of Representatives in February that year relied on strong and sophisticated longitudinal research that finds physical discipline does not improve behavior and can lead to emotional, behavioral and academic problems over time, even after race, gender and family socioeconomic status have been statistically controlled.
“The research finds that hitting children does not teach them about responsibility, conscience development and self-control. ‘Hitting children does not teach them right from wrong,’ says Elizabeth Gershoff, PhD, an expert on the effects of corporal punishment on children who provided research for the resolution. ‘Spanking gets their attention, but they have not internalised why they should do the right thing in the future. They may behave when the adult is there but do whatever they want at other times.'”
The Caribbean lags behind in acceptance of the research through conceptualisation and implementation of policy driven by the scientific data. According to a UNESCO Report on Latin America and the Caribbean region, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela are the countries that have specific legislation to prohibit corporal punishment in all areas, including: the home, the school, alternative care centres and penal institutions.
Where science does not support corporal punishment as a corrective measure, the Government of Guyana must now move quickly to protect Guyanese children by making child beating illegal in every instance and circumstance.
