Spare the rod, spoil the child

Tinashe Nyamushanya
“Spare the rod, spoil the child is a popular saying among the guardians of the past century. Its influence has trickled even into current societies.
Originally, it must have been aimed at raising a moral generation through strict discipline.
However, based on the violence and harassment that results from this proverb, it is quite debatable whether corporal punishment should be used in the coming years.

This proverb is an abuse of children, especially in African society, where the belief that every elderly person has a parental responsibility to the young prevails.

For instance, in some schools the staff have often punished students by spanking. Every human being has the right to express themselves without fear.

He/she should be allowed the right to be respected, regardless of age, financial or academic status. Based on human rights concepts it is quite evident that corporal punishment is opposed to the concept of respect.

The child has the right to grow in a healthy environment, conducive to the development of his physical and mental self. Beating up children, according to psychologists, has only served to raise timid individuals with a low self-esteem unstable and unsure of their capabilities.

What then shall we do to reconcile this proverb with the concepts of human rights? Guardians should seek alternative methods of disciplining children such as discussing things, and detention. Recent studies have proven that this proverb is a contradiction in itself. In fact, the rod has spoilt the child. It has not earned the guardians respect. The rod hurts the child emotionally and physically. Beating up children solves nothing but causes grievous bodily harm to a child. Beating a child might lead to great suffering.

There is no tree that never was a seedling, so is there no parent who was never a child? Parents know life and the mistakes made by children yet they resort to lashing at them as if they were never children themselves. My best advice to those who have whips is to keep them for display purposes only. A seed needs water, fertiliser and manure. Children need love, care and advice to strengthen them for future livelihood.

If you look deeper into a child you see a fresh mind which needs advice and not thorough lashings. Parents and teachers should not undermine the capacity of children to live up to their expectations. Children are not stones! They can change through counselling. Parents and teachers alike should realise that if they put aside the rod and pursue dialogue, they will certainly not “spoil the child”.