Teach English in Rongmei Zhen - Enshi Tujiazu Miaozu Zizhizhou

Yes, teachers should punish students for bad behaviour. I strongly believe that the absence of punishment may produce students who are less likely informed about the limitations of their boundaries. As an educator who has both experienced teaching with Asian and Western educators, I have seen the extent to which punishment has helped students adopt more positive behaviours. In Asian culture, punishment is seen as a way of instilling discipline in children. It also acts as a deterrent for fellow classmates from adopting bad behaviour, not unless they wish to be punished too. Punishing of students is generally accepted in the Asian culture, as long as it is justifiable and does not cause harm to the child. A disclaimer though, there is however a small population of parents who are against the idea of teachers punishing their child/children. Meanwhile, in Western culture, children are generally allowed to explore on their own and take responsibility for their actions. For example, in an Asian family, if a child has committed a bad act, the usual first immediate action would be to either spank the child or stare at him; an indication that lets him know he will be punished at a later time. In contrast, Western parents would let the child off with a warning or explain to him the possible consequences of his actions. For example, if he continues to climb, he will fall and it will hurt. In Psychology studies, it is theorised by Skinner that behaviour is learnt through operant conditioning. This is a method of learning that occurs through punishments and rewards for behaviour. For example, if a child is rewarded for a behaviour, it is likely that the frequency of the behaviour will be increased. Whereas, if a child is punished for the behaviour, the behaviour is less likely to occur in the future. Based on this sole theory then, punishment should be advantageous to reduce and eventually eliminate a student’s bad behaviour. Additionally, social learning theorist Bandura further expanded our understanding of operant conditioning by theorising that behaviour can be shaped by observing others being rewarded or punished. This essentially means that punishing a student will also inform other students in the classroom that such behaviour is unacceptable and that there will be dire consequences. Other advantages of incorporating punishment in the classroom are; it distinctly separates students who want to learn versus those who do not, and it allows students to understand that they will end up facing more severe punishment later if they continue behaving badly. A school is not only a place for students to gain academic knowledge but also a place where good values are instilled and character is developed. In the real world, there are consequences for bad actions. For example, committing robbery or theft can lead to jail time. Students have to be aware of this. While I do agree that teachers should punish students for bad behaviours, it should not be the only solution. Other factors should be taken into account as well. For some children, punishment may prove to be detrimental instead of beneficial. Children who are used to being punished are also less likely to respond well to punishment. In trying to get the student to adopt more positive behaviours and reduce bad behaviours, it will take time. Behavioural change does not occur overnight and should not be simplified to only using punishment to deter future bad behaviours. When it comes to punishing students, the reason for punishment should be justified and should not be an outlet for a teacher to vent his/her frustrations. There is certainly a grey line as to the specific bad behaviour that warrants the call of a punishment. The term “bad behaviour” is also subjective and mostly based on the teacher’s interpretation of it. For example, tardiness is bad behaviour. If it is not corrected, there is a likelihood that such behaviour will continue in the future. Some teachers resort to punishment to reduce such behaviour while others may think that it is too trivial of bad behaviour to resort to punishment. As such, one way to overcome this is to set clear rules and expectations from the first day of school. Students should be aware that that is the teacher’s class management style and refusal to abide by the rules and/or expectations will result in specific consequences. It is crucial for teachers to note the following too. Firstly, the act of punishment should not be the immediate course of action for students committing bad behaviour for the first time. Children are at the stage where they are still exploring right versus wrong. Instead of punishing, perhaps the student should be let off with a stern warning first. Subsequent repetitions of such behaviour will then lead to punishments. Secondly, it is essential that teachers explain to students post punishment. In many cases, I have seen teachers fail to explain the reason behind the student getting punished. This leaves the student clueless as to the specific behaviour that should not be repeated. The result? The student repeats the behaviour again. Additionally, I think that an explanation of the punishment should be extended to the student’s classmates as well. This lets the other students know as well that such behaviours shall not be exhibited in class, and will not be tolerated. Finally, students should be aware that it is his/her action that is unacceptable and needs to be corrected. This must not be confused with him/her being labelled as a “bad or naughty student”. The teacher needs to clearly reinforce this. In order to further encourage the student to adopt more positive behaviours, it needs to be ensured that his portrayal of good behaviours is rewarded too. Rewards do not necessarily have to be in the form of gifts. It can also be in the form of compliments and redemption of coupons. In my class, for example, students are allowed to choose a coupon to redeem when they behave well or show exemplary behaviours. Some of the coupons I prepared are; “No homework for today”, “Sit next to a student of your choice”, and “Teacher’s assistant for the day”.