The cane has long disappeared from teachers’ hands to discipline school students; now, another dreaded tool of punishment is all set to disappear.
In a move that will bring much cheer to children, the state government has now banned teachers from enforcing ‘copy writing’ or ‘imposition’ (imposition means forcing students to write a sentence or a word again and again) as punishment in schools falling under the state board.
The state department of public instructions (DPI), in its annual plan book (Shaikshanika Margadarshi), states that teachers will not allowed to ask students to write anything repeatedly.
The book — which is almost in the form of advice for teachers — says: “Not just beating or scolding, even making students to write the same thing again and again is also a punishment. So, it is better to avoid such activities.”
According to the department, making students repeat things will create an unusual fear amongst students towards teachers. It also says that teachers must attract students with their soft nature and must act accordingly.
Reacting to the development, an official from the primary education department said: “Corporal punishment has already been banned. Even making students to repeat any writing is considered as punishment, because though it won’t be physical harassment, it will be mental harassment for students. So, we have decided to abolish it and send a message to teachers through the annual book.”
Teachers have also been advised to dress decently. According to department officials, concentration of students in the class room depends on the dressing sense of teachers.
“We have directed the teachers to dress decently. We have also asked them to allow students to discuss issues related to the subject and to encourage their questioning behaviour in the class room,” an official said.
However, the teaching community is against the department’s move to ban ‘copy writing’. D Shashi Kumar, organising secretary, Karnataka state private schools management federation, said: “Corporal punishment has already been banned. They are also considering ‘imposition’ as punishment.
This will definitely decrease the quality of learning. It has already happened after corporal punishment was banned. ”
