Abstract
The escalation of learner indiscipline cases in schools suggests failure by teachers to institute adequate alternative disciplinary measures after corporal punishment was outlawed in South African schools. We sought to address the following two research questions: (a) How do educators view their disciplinary capabilities in the post-corporal punishment period? and (b) How do educators view the usefulness of alternative disciplinary measures? The study adopted a qualitative approach. A case study of three purposively selected practising junior secondary school educators was used. Data were collected through interviews. We found that educators generally feel disempowered in their ability to institute discipline in schools in the absence of corporal punishment. Educators revealed that learners do not fear or respect educators because they know that nothing will happen to them. Although educators are aware of alternative disciplinary measures, they view them as ineffective and time consuming. Keywords: corporal punishment; educator capacity; indiscipline; schools; South Africa
Highlights
The democratization of the South African school system in line with the new democratic constitution enacted upon attainment of independence in 1994 has brought with it emphasis on respect and preservation of children’s rights
The following were the results of this study: Educator 1 Mr Malata was a qualified and experienced educator in the school. He joined the school in 1990 (4 years teaching during the apartheid period and 14 years post-apartheid) and held a Diploma in Education. He specialized in teaching Economic Management Sciences (EMS) and Technology and was one of the senior educators in the school
The study looked at how educators viewed the use and usefulness of alternative disciplinary measures
Summary
The democratization of the South African school system in line with the new democratic constitution enacted upon attainment of independence in 1994 has brought with it emphasis on respect and preservation of children’s rights. In line with the Constitution, the National Education Policy Act of 1996 (Republic of South Africa, 1996a:A-47) states that “no person shall administer corporal punishment or subject a student to psychological or physical abuse at any educational institution”. Schools have to come up with functional alternative measures in order to deal with indiscipline This shows the dilemma schools face in trying to respect children’s rights and at the same time finding adequate and meaningful measures to deal with learner indiscipline without infringing on the said rights (Chisholm, 2007)
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