Why Anambra teachers ponder sparing the rod

The sudden death of Mrs Makachi Rita, a teacher at Starlight Secondary School, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, after receiving strokes of the cane from the angry parent of one of her students, has continued to generate mixed reactions.  The deceased, a class mistress in charge of Senior Secondary School […]

The sudden death of Mrs Makachi Rita, a teacher at Starlight Secondary School, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, after receiving strokes of the cane from the angry parent of one of her students, has continued to generate mixed reactions. 

The deceased, a class mistress in charge of Senior Secondary School (SSS1) was said to have flogged a female student over negligence of assigned duty as well as insubordination. 

The mother and a man, on receiving the report of the flogging from her daughter, were said to have rushed to the school where they allegedly beat the tutor to death.

 In view of the ugly development, some teachers have said they would rather respond to students’ inappropriate behaviour through other punitive measures than caning them. 

 A teacher in one of public schools in the state, who simply identified herself as Ulunma, said it would be a folly for any teacher to continue flogging students after the pathetic story of their late colleague, Mrs Rita.

 “What do I even gain by flogging the students? If they refuse to change, that should not concern me, it is their business. Now that teacher has lost her life because she was trying to be a good teacher. It is a pity indeed,” she said.

Another teacher said canning students was risky because it discouraged them from attending classes or to lose interest in some teachers and consequently the subjects they handle.   

 An educationist, Dr. Ifeoma Bosah, described the incident as an abomination, saying the ugly incident was a clear case of the failure of parents in training their children.

 Dr. Bosah, who is a university lecturer, said although the teacher might have rough handled the girl due to her stubbornness that was not a justifiable reason for the parent’s action.

 As for the teachers who were already contemplating withholding the cane as a disciplinary measure, the educationist said that would not be a healthy decision to take.

 “The Bible makes it clear that if you spare the rod, you will spoil the child, and the Bible cannot be wrong. We must apply the rod principle, but not without caution.

 “I am always against flogging. If you must flog, don’t do that when you are provoked. You may ask the child to kneel down so you can cool down, because if you handle the child in anger, you may end up harming the child. There must be a limit to the flogging,” she said.

 A parent, Comrade Emmanuel Ifesinachi, said flogging the child would have been the last resort.

 “I doubt if the teacher had exploited other avenues to compel the student to obey the instructions given to her before resorting to flogging.

 “If a student refused to obey the instructions of the teacher and that refusal is deliberate, that matter ought to be transferred to the management whose responsibility it is to handle it. The student can be suspended or dismissed outright from the school,” he said.

 While canvassing for a periodic enlightenment campaign for teachers, parents and students where such matters would be discussed, the NUJ boss however said the incident has drawn the attention of teachers on the need to apply appropriate punishment to students for an offence they commit.

 “That a student refuses to sweep the class does not warrant flogging him or her in a manner that there would be visible marks on the body. Teachers should be more careful, and parents too,” the don cautioned. 

Also reacting on the matter, a human rights activist, Uzor A. Uzor, said disciplining an errant student, including flogging is permissible in the African context and must be upheld.

“What is obtainable in the western countries is entirely different from the African. The issue of flogging is not permissible in the western world. But here, there is no reason why students would not be flogged by the teacher. Using the rod, which signifies discipline, is permissible,” he averred.