Posted By: stichy On: 8/27/2010

Title: CP is a GREAT motivation to DO BETTER

i agree that cp should stay in the schools but used in moderation. i graduated high school in 2003 an by the time i got in jr school i got trained well enough AT HOME so that when i was a teenager i knew right from wrong and had disciple. my mother when i was younger surely didnt spare the rod. i got beatings of course after a few warnings of "gal if you can't hear ya ga feel!!" and of couser after not heeding the warnings i got beatings and while she beat me she explained why i got beating sometimes there was a spank for every word. so it was a gaurantee that i knew why i was getting a beating and was sure not to make that mistake again at home school and anywhere. beatings surely didnt kill me. i graduated jr. high, high school and also college and all with top honors never got in problems (well drastic problems) at either of the schools. cp is ONLY a problem when the person instituting the cp goes overboard. beatings didnt kill me nor did the pain form the beatings last forever....however the lessons i've learnt from receiving those beatings stuck with me forever and propelled me to the successes i have achieved and will be continuing to achieve in the future.

Posted By: lam On: 8/2/2010

Title: BEATING IS WEAK AND DESPERATE

the bible? is this to be our ONLY source of wisdom? we must close our eyes and ears and minds to the ever mounting evidence that beating children, shaming and humiliating them is a desperate act, useful only to those too weak or dumb to come up with an alternative? what about your god-given brains, people?
there's blasphemy and disgrace in refusing to progress and learn by using the tools your god endowed you with.

Posted By: JOE On: 7/27/2010

Title: RESPONSE

WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO BACK TO THAT GOD FORSAKEN NATION WHO FILL YOUR HEAD WITH THAT JUNK. GOD SAY BEAT UM WHEN THEY WRONG SO YOU AND AMERICA DEM MUSSY CHEIF GOD EH?. MUSSY!

Posted By: JOE On: 7/27/2010

Title: CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

STOP FOLLWING AMERICA PLEASE . THE BIBLE SAYS IF YOU SPARE THE ROD YOU SPOIL THE CHILD. I SAY USE IT SCHOOL TELL THE PARENTS YOU DONE IT ,AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO GIVE IT AGAIN AT HOME THATS WHAT MADE ME WHAT I AM TODAY. IT DID NOT KILL ME IT STEER ME IN PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT CRIMINALITY. I DARE THE PERSON TELL ME I CAN'T PUNISH MY CHILDREN.

Posted By: Learning Revenge On: 7/25/2010

Title: Teaching our children by example.

This is not the 1950's. Like it or not, what corporal punishment in the schools does is CERTAINLY "educate" the victims. What happens to an adult that takes offense at a neighbor and uses "corporal punishment" on him? We call it "assault" and put the "punisher" in gaol. But in the schools, the children are taught that it is proper to punish another physically in response to an offense. And the child will certainly learn his lesson well. He will grow to use his "education" against others just as he learned in school. "But the teacher TOLD me that if someone breaks the rules, it's okay to beat them!" And we wonder why today's youth are dropping out of school in favor of joining a gang for protection. What do you think they perceive the need protection against? The children in the 21st century are NOT the same as the children of the 1950's. There are new and different pressures, moral norms, and protective alternatives (gangs and personal retaliation) that simply were not available or accepted back in the "good old days." Possibly take a look at faculty assaults by students in 2000-2009 vs. the same offense in 1950-1959. The "good olde days" have come and gone forever. Learn and progress, or be a "teacher of 40 years" that does not have the respect of his students, so he doesn't know any better way of insuring behavior other than assaulting a minor.

Posted By: Well Disciplined Lady On: 6/28/2010

Title: Everything in Moderation, especially Discipline

I can see this issue from all sides. Yes, there are some parents that abuse disciplinary methods. Some may say that this is the same for our school system. However, [rude/rebellious] students are not the way they are because the Principal or Senior Master cuts their hip for being disgusting. They are that way because their parents failed to properly teach them the way that they ought to go, and properly discipline them.
If parents did their jobs, there would be no need for canes and paddles in schools. So, because that is not the case, corporal punishment in schools is very much neccessary. It is not meant to hurt the child psychologically or scar them physically. It is meant to instill fear in them. Yes, I said fear! When they think about slapping another child, or stealing from someone, they SHOULD think about Mr. Principal notonly whipping them, but also chewing their ears off with a good, long lecture.
Beating is the physical ramifications of wrong doing, and when done in the correct form, it is very effective. Yes, some children do not respond to beating. That simply means that one must find which form of discipline effectively reaches that child. Beating is not meant for every child. Some children fold up and apologize non-stop by simply hearing the word "belt". Those parents who have a problem with corporal punishment needs to simply find a nice little private school for their child, that has a very LOW punishment, and very high tolerance levels to send their child to who shares the same views.
I can guarantee you that if there a few rotten kids in the bunch, that parent will catch HELL once that child is old enough to talk back to them and rebel. Spare the rod, spoil the child. Abuse is real, yes. However, abuse can be verbal, psychological, emotional....My parents did not spare the rod with me. Atleast my father did not. Whevever I did something wrong which was not often for obvious reasons, I got my backside torn up! And after I calmed down, he would always come back and sit with me and explain exactly why he did what he did. I always understood.
For that reason, I never got beaten for the same thing twice. My mother was physically abused as a child, therefore, she preferred not to hit us, especially when she was angry. However, her tongue lashings were sever and never ending. I am now 21, and to this day, I would rather my father slap the hell out of me for something, than to have my mother talk my ears off for a few days about that same thing.
Ps. My father has been public high school principal/administrator for over 30 years, and he is well known for his cane. However, to this day, grown men come up to him on the streets, in the banks, in the mall, just to thank him for his disciplining them when they were his students. He never spared the rod, he still does not. However, his is not only a disciplinarian, he is a mentor. He shows you the error of your ways, and works with you to be a better person. He loves his "bad boys" and "bad girls" as he so 'affectionately' refers to them, for he knows how to get through to them. And those same bad boys come back to thank him decades later for saving their lives and making them good men and women, and even better parents. The belt/cane made my father & my uncle the men they are (and were) today, and the wrong kind of beating made my mother the woman who she is today as well. She uses less conventional methods to get her point accross, even though she still overdoes it due to her upbringing. And, those relatives of mine who were not beaten as kids, are OBVIOUSLY going through harsher life lessons; most involving pride, vanity, and always wanting to have their own way.

Posted By: GARY MERVYN MENEELY. On: 6/22/2010

Title: MR.

DEAR SIR/MADAM,
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXPRESS CLEARLY,MY VIEWS,OPINIONS,THOUGHTS,FEELINGS
ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR-OLD-METHOD/FORM OF PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE,
USED OR ADMINISTERED IN SCHOOLS AND IN THE HOME ON MANY
SCHOOLBOYS/SCHOOLGIRLS,PARTICULARLY THROUGHT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IT'S OVERSEAS-DEPENDENCIES,TODAY.IT,SHOULD,HOWEVER,BE COMPLETELY,TOTALLY,UTTERLY,
BANNED,ABOLISHED,BANISHED,ERADICATED,ELIMINATED,STAMPTED-OUT ALTOGETHER.IT,HOWEVER,SENDS OUT COMPLETELY AND ENTIRELY THE"WRONG-MESSAGE",TO MANY SCHOOLBOYS AND SCHOOLGIRLS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS A
WHOLE.IT IS,WHOLEHEARTEDLY,A VIOLATION OF THE"CIVIL-AND-HUMAN-RIGHTS"FOR
ANY SCHOOLCHILD,NO MATTER WHO THEY ACTUALLY ARE.IT IS BETTER IN THE LONG-RUN OR LONG-TERM TO SIT DOWN AND TALK THE MATTER OVER,WHATEVER THE CASE
MAY BE,E.T.C..I,MYSELF,HOWEVER,ALWAYS,HAVE BEEN,TOTALLY AND DEAD-AGAINST THE IDEA MYSELF.I,DO,MYSELF,THROUGHLY,OBJECT,OPPOSE,DISAGREE,CONDEMN,DON'T CONDONE AND DISSAPROVE OF,THIS METHOD/FORM OF PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE USED,
IN OR ADMINISTERED IN ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE AND HIGH-SCHOOLS,THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.THERE ARE,HOWEVER,FAR AND MUCH-BETTER,FAIRER ,SUPERIOR AND WORKABLE,JUST,WAYS,FORMS,
OPTIONS,CHOICES,NON-VIOLENT-METHODS AND ALTERNATIVES,RATHER THAN THE THREAT OF CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE.IT IS,HOWEVER,A DANGEROUS OLD-
PRACTICE,AND CAN LEAD TO SEXUAL-ABUSE/ASSAULT,GREVIOUS-BODILY-HARM,ACTUAL-BODILY-HARM,WHICH ARE VERY-SERIOUS-OFFENCES/CRIMES.IT IS,ON THE OTHER HAND,A VERY-DEGRADING,DICOURAGING,HUMILIATING,BARBARIC,SADISTIC,CRUEL,HARSH-FORM OF PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE,AND SHOULD BE MADE TO BECOME A THING OF THE PAST.I AM,
VERY,VERY,CONCERNED MYSELF,PERSONALLY,ABOUT PROTECTING THE"HUMAN-AND-CIVIL-RIGHTS"AND"DIGNITY "OF ANY SCHOOLCHILDREN,CONCERNED,IN GENERAL,NO MATTER WHO THEY ACTUALLY ARE.IT IS,A CONTRAVENTION AND INFRINGEMENT OF THEIR OWN "HUMAN-RIGHTS" AND CIVIL-LIBERTIES,OVERALL.
HOWEVER,NOT GOOD FOR THEM AT ALL,TO BE TREATED IN THIS WAY,TO BE ACTUALLY HIT,WHIPPED, FLOGGED,BEATEN,BELTED,TORTURED,WHACKED,WALLOPED,CHASTISED,PENALISED OR
PUNISHED IN THIS WAY.ITIS,ALSO,HOWEVER,PSYCHOLOGICALLY-DAMAGING,TO THEIR
IMAGE,DIGNITY,SELF-CONFIDENCE,SELF-RESPECT,SELF-BELIEF,SELF-ESTEEM,REPUTATION.IT CAN,SOMETIMES RESULT IN COMMITTING-SUICIDE OR DEATH,NOT TO MENTION THE PHYSICAL-INJURY,BRUISING,E.T.C.,ESPECIALLY ON THE ARM,HAND,THIGHS AND BUTTOCKS.THRE SHOULD BE A NEW FEDERAL-LAW PASSED,IN WASHINGTON-DISTRICT-OF-COLUMBIA,THE UNITED-STATES-
CAPITAL,THROUGH THE SUPREME COURT OF LAW,BANNING,ABOLISHING,OUTLAWING,BANISHING,ERADICATING IT ALTOGETHER,FOR THE FUTURE-TIMES AND YEARS TO COME.THIS APPLIES,HOWEVER,TO MANY MILLIONS OF SCHOOLGIRLS/SCHOOLBOYS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY,FORM COAST TO COAST IN ALL OF THE FIFTY-STATES,COMBINED.
THE PRACTICE,HOWEVER,OF PADDILING,IS NOW IILEGAL IN SOME STATES,BUT NOT COMPLETELY IN OTHERS.HOWEVER,THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL-BREAKDOWN,IT CAN CAUSE,AND ALSO THE SORROW,UPSET, PAIN,AGONY,GRIEF,FRUSTRATION,HEARTACHE,DISCORD,HARDSHIP,ADVERSITY,ANGER,
ARGUMENTS,SUFFERING THAT IT CAUSES,IN FAMILIES,ESPECIALLY AT HOME,IS NOT BY ANY WAY,CONJUCIVE OR GOOD FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND HARMONY.ITALSO CAN
MAKE YOUNGSTERS TURN REBELLIOUS,REVENGEFUL,RESENTFUL,BITTER AND VIOLENT.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE,HOWEVER, FOR IT ALL,WHATSOEVER,FOR THIS METHOD/FORM OF PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE.I,AM HOWEVER,WAGING-WAR AND PROTESTING AGAINST
THE PRACTICE OF CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE.THERE SHOULD BE A COMPLETE
"ZERO-TOLERANCE"-POLICY,CONCERNING THIS AGE-OLD-METHOD/FORM OR PRACTICE,
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE,USED OR ADMINISTERED IN ANY ELEMENTARY,MIDDLE OR HIGH-SCHOOL AND PRIVATE-SCHOOLS.IT'S,DISADVANTAGES,HOWEVER DO,FAR OUTWEIGH THE ADVANTAGES.
IT CAN,HOWEVER,MAKE MILLIONS OF MANY SCHOOLCHILDREN,WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF IT,FEEL AWFUL,EMBARRASSED,HORRIBLE INSIDE,ANGRY,BITTER,RESENTFUL,REVENGFUL,ANNOYED,CROSS,UNHAPPY,LOWERS INTELLIGENCE AND BREEDS VIOLENCE,WHICH IN TURN IS NEGATIVE AND SELF-DEFEATING.IT CAN MAKE MANY SCHOOLCHILDREN FEEL SCARED,PERPLEXED,APPREHENSIVE,FEARFUL, FRIGHTENED,NERVOUS,ANXIOUS,WORRIED,INTIMIDATED,STRESSED,UPSET,UNEASY AND
DISCONCERTED AND HUMILIATED,SELF-CONCIOUS.I AM,HOWEVER,STEPPING,INTO THEIR OWN SHOES-AND-SKIN,METOPHORICALLY SPEAKING,AND WALKING-AROUND IN IT.I DO,FEEL,HOWEVER,VERY SORRY FOR ANY OF THE VICTIMS,WHO HAVE RECEIVED IT,ON SEVERAL OR MANY OCCASIONS,NO MATTER WHO THEY ACTUALLY ARE.IT IS,BEEN,HOWEVER,TOTALLY,COMPLETELY,-ABOLISHED,BANNED,BANISHED,OUTLAWED,ERADICATED,STAMPTED-OUT OVER HERE IN THE UNITED-KINGDOM-OF-GREAT-BRITAIN AND NORTHERN-IRELAND;-(ULSTER), IN STATE-SCHOOLS,PRIMARY AND SECONDARY AND ALSO IN PRIVATE/INDEPENDENT-PREPARATORY/SECONDARY-SCHOOLS,GRADUALLY OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO,FOR
THE BETTER OF ALL SCHOOLBOYS/SCHOOLGIRLS.THERE IS NOW, A VERY STRONG,"ZERO-TOLERANCE"-POLICY WE HAVE ADOPTED AS A NATION.WITH SCHOOLCHILDREN,AS FAR AS THEIR EDUCATION,LEARNING,SCHOOLING IS CONCERNED,HEADTEACHER'S,TEACHERS,SCHOOL-ADMINISTRATORS,HAVE TO BE FAIR,JUST AND REASONABLE,WITH SCHOOLBOYS AND SCHOOLGIRLS.SO THE ONLY WAY IS ONWARDS,UPWARDS AND FORWARDS.ANY FORM OF CORPORAL-PUNISHMENT/DISCIPLINE CAN MAKE MANY SCHOOLCHILDREN'S LIVES"HELL" AND A
COMPLETE-MISERY,BECAUSE OF THE THREAT OF BEING,BULLIED,RIDICULED,LAUGHED-AT, BEING MADE A FOOL OF,BEING-PICKED-ON,TEASED,NAME-CALLING AND GENERALLY-MADE-FUN-OF IN FRONT OF ALL THEIR OTHER CLASS-STUDENTS,WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT VERY NICE OR PLEASANT.I'VE JUST VBEEN READING AN ATRICLE OR REPORT TODAY,
THAT A FORTNIGHT AGO,A 15 YEAR-OLD SCHOOLGIRL CLSAIMED SHE WAS HIT BY A SCHOOL-OFFICIAL WITH A METAL ROD,AS IT SAYS WRAPPED IN BLACK-TAPE.SHE WAS LEFT WITH INJURIES SUCH AS BLACK-AND-BLUE-BRUISES ON HER RIGHT ARM AND BUTTOCKS.HOWEVER,THIS MATTER,OF ASSAULT, IS NOW UNDER GOING POLICE-
INVESTIGATION,AND EDUCATION-MINISTER,MR.CARL BETHEL WAS QUESTIONING AND
INVESTIGATING THE CLAIM,TO TAKE LEGAL/DISCIPLINARY-ACTION AGAINST THE SCHOOL-OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE.THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKEN BEFORE A COURT OF LAW IN THE UNITED-STATES.THE VICTIM SHOULD BE, AWARDED COMPENSATION,WHICH IS ONLY RIGHT.ALL IT DOES IS,HOWEVER,REINFORCES ANGER,RESENTMENT,GRUDGE-BEARING,HINDERS,HAMPERS AND IMPEDES THEIR EDUCATIONAL-PROGRESS AT SCHOOL.
IT CAUSES,BITTERNESS,HATREDNESS,WHEN SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE BLAMED AND ASHAMED IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITY,AS A WHOLE,WHENEVER THEY GET ASSUALTED,ABUSED,WHIPPED,WHICH IS HORRIBLE AND UNPLEASANT,WHENEVER THEY GET FOR WHATEVER REASON,GET HIT,BELTED,BEATEN,CHASTISED,PENALISED,PUNISHED,WALLOPED,FLOGGED IN THIS WAY,WHICH IS,BASICALLY, NOT REALLY ON OR ACCEPTABLE IN ANY MODERN-DAY-SOCIETY.IT WANTS TO BE MADE A THING OF THE PAST,URGENTLY AND VERY-QUICKLY.
I,THINK ENOUGH HAS BEEN SAID OR MENTIONED ABOUT THIS SOCIAL-EVIL OR VICE,AND
DANGEROUS-PRACTICE OR TACTIC.IN MANY WAYS,HOWEVER,IT IS NOT A VIRTUE.IT DOES,NOT HOWEVER,REALLY IMPROVE ANY SCHOLCHILDREN'S CONDUCT OR BEHAVIOUR,IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES,WHATEVER-THE-
WEATHER,NO MATTER WHO THEY ACTUALLY ARE,AND WHEREVER THEY ARE.
YOURS FAITHFULLY,
SIGNED;-MR.G.M.MENEELY,
"!HIGHTREES",18,
CHESTNUT-GROVE,
OWL-END,
GREAT-STULKELEY,
HUNTINGDON,
CAMBRIDGESHIRE.
ENGLAND,(U.K.).
EMAIL-ADDRESS;-MERVANDENID@HOTMAIL.CO.UK
HOME-TELEPHONE-NO;- + 44 (01480)-413185.
(NEW-WORLD-CAMPAIGNER-AGANIST THE USE OF/ANY FORM OF
(CORPORAL--PUNISMENT USED OR ADMINISTERED IN AMERICAN,ELEMENTARY,
MIDDLE AND PUBLIC/HIGH-SCHOOLS,E.T.C..

Posted By: James Forbes On: 5/19/2010

Title: Some thoughts

He did not say corporal punishment shouldn't be used. He said that it should not be used without 1) telling the child what they did wrong, 2) having the child apologise, and 3) telling what behaviour is expected of them in the future. Do those three things, then feel free to cut hip. But giving a beating just because the child did something that made you mad will not improve their behaviour.
And I agree with what he said about corporal punishment for older children. If beating didn't get them to drop the stink attitude when they were 6-10, it won't work when they are 13 and older. At that point, it's time to change tactics. I am a firm believer in beating the fresh out of disrespectful child, but it has to be done when they are young enough to be trained.

Posted By: jane doe On: 5/18/2010

Title: walk in a teacher's shoe

cp is only administered after all other avenues have been exhausted. counselling, parent teacher conferences, and other disciplinary actions are taken before cp. cp is the last resort!

Posted By: zero tolerance to any violence. On: 5/12/2010

Title: time to move onwards and upwards TOGETHER

People are blaming the children for their behavior saying the deserve a cut ass but who is raising them? its a proven fact that hitting children lowers intelligence and breeds violence. parents need to be educated, if kids don't know right from wrong its the parents who are to blame. Thats why kids are bringing weapons to schools because hitting and punching is so normal they need to take it to the next level.

Posted By: Amused On: 5/5/2010

Title: LOL

I just graduated from high school and I can assure you that unless you beat these kids to death, they will never get the message, this generation is ruthless, they don't give a crap about anyone. Even parents who swear for their kids have NO idea who their kids really are. TRUST me, I know what I'm talking about. Beat these kids at home and beat them in schools. Otherwise the future is doomed.

Posted By: Bay Street On: 5/3/2010

Title: Response

Are there teachers and school officials walking around school hitting students for no reason? I left high school fours years ago, and the few times CP was administered on me I knew exactly what I did wrong. Normally on the first day of school/orientation, students are made aware of infractions they should not participate in. Does Mr. Brennen expect us to have a 4 counselling session with students as to why they are being disciplined?
I do agree with him that CP isn't the only means of disciplinary action. And teachers need to educated on alternative ways on disciplining students. However, for some of these students (due to them developing so fast), the only thing they fear/will respond to, is a good wailing.
Mr. Brennen mentioned this 15 yr old student, as I don't know the outcome of that investigation. My question would be, what did the student do that required the school official involvement? what is the procedures for executing CP - 2 or 3 cuts on the buttocks? was it a metal rod used? Why is the bruise on the student arms, did the official act out of line or was the student fighting back? These are all questions that I hope was asked.
Mr. Brennen does highlight that we as a country need to utilize other forms of punishment and I commend him for that.
And please Bahamas, stop comparing us to other countries! We can look at other countries as a reference, but just cause one country is or isn't doing something, doesn't mean we should follow them. I sometimes feel as if we see ourselves as inferior individuals who are not creative or innovative. We can produce our own Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffets and Sam Zells.

Posted By: bobdoal On: 4/30/2010

Title: these educated bahamians kill me

what we have here is another "educated" bahamian who thinks he knows what he is talking about , these schools need to cut these children arse, many of these kids have no morals and do not want to develop morals, that is why there arse needs to b cut, forget the sit down and talk, do you think they are listening, you can tell the kids who have potential and dont but most of these kids needs there arses cut, and stop all of this sugar honey ice tea about surveys in us say this and that, seem reason why tommy say the roads need to b one way now, because of the studies done in the us, what studies tommy

Posted By: Chris On: 4/12/2010

Title: Teacher of 40 years

I would love these degree saturated, opinionated outsiders to spend a few weeks trying to sit down and communicate with some of our students. He would soon change his mind.Funny how these new fangled ideas usually come from persons NOT in the classroom.

Posted By: For What it is Worth On: 4/6/2010

Title: Complete Argument Missed

Whereas, 1. Corporal Punishment (CP) is an entrenched aspect of the way we practice life in The Bahamas; 2. CP appears to be an effective means to control and direct our children; and 3. CP will remain an alternative within the schools as a means of managing up approved behaviour with immediacy; I suggest Mr. Brennen's argument is sound.
It would appear that his central idea was missed by most reactions to his post. As I re-read it to see if i missed something I noted the following. 1) Mr. Brennen advocates that CP, when used, be accompanied by "reasoning", so that the recipient is made aware of the "why" of the action. 2) Mr. Brennen argues that the apparent rise in violence in response to the removal of CP has a direct link to a deficiency is transitionary training for teachers/administrators on behalf of the governing agency for education. 3) CP is an element of the disciplinary system that is utilized in socializing children in Bahamian Society. 4) CP as the primary means of correction should be ceased at age 16. 5) Mr. Brennen is a Bahamian who is regionally/internationally certified; i.e. he is qualified to practice in The Bahamas and US. And finally in conclusion, Mr. Brennen advances that CP is only one component of a discipline system and that it should not be the ONLY component.
I find it interesting that when law enforcement utilizes physical force to "punish" suspects, or when physical force is utilized to resolve conflicts among adults, or when a spouse or partner uses physical force to "reprimand" or "punish" their spouse/partner for breaking the rules of their covenant, there is protest.
This apparent double standard is the world we are producing for our children to populate, emulate, and re-produce. Apparently there is a time when physical force as a deterrent is non longer appropriate.
As to the Biblical arguments I will respectfully refrain from commenting as that is a discussion in and of itself. To sum up, I will use the words of fellow poster R. Thompson, "...our whole system of justice in our homes, communities and country is to blame." If we have been doing the same thing over and over and over again, and there is not change, why do we now expect a change? If what worked for our fore parents do not seem to be working now, why do we cling so nostalgically to it? If we have replicated the systems of the past and we still have the problems, why are we not examining them that selecting that which works and discarding that which does not?

Posted By: Donovan Thompson On: 4/5/2010

Title: He crazy

Typical American. He mussy never get his behind cut. I guarantee if you keep getting beaten for doin something wrong, you gonna get the idea. Or, you gonna keep gettin it and at that point, if you don't know to change, then u deserve it. Let the people in the US keep their methods for discipline. I am married to an american and she talks to her mom in ways that I would prolly get punch in my mouth even at 26 years old talkin to mine. Americans don't have the real family values as in the islands. We're much closer to family and even teachers in school. My parents knew the dean of my school and if he didnt beat me in school, he could have prolly called one of them and they would have came and did it in school for him. Trust me.

Posted By: MAD AS HELL On: 3/30/2010

Title: INSANE

THIS MAN IS CRAZY. I TEACH AT A SCHOOL THAT DO NOT PUNISH. THE PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN THERE BELIEVE THEY ARE ON THE SAME LEVEL WITH ADULTS.A FRIEND TOLD ME AT HER SCHOOL SHE SPANKS LIKE ALL TEACHERS THERE. HER STUDENTS GET NO LESS THAN 80% ON THEIR EXAMS .MINE SIT COMFORTABLE WITH A 38%. SPANKING DID NOT KILL US. THAT'S WHY THESE CHILDREWN TAKING OVER. BRENNEN GO AND SIT DOWN.

Posted By: Kendrick Chrisite On: 3/7/2010

Title: Liberalism

Corporal punishment is an option and should be used in specific cases and under rigid guidelines. We need to be very careful about the liberalism and taking of a USA approach to our culture which has it's nuances and uniqueness. Everyone knows teachers are battling in these schools, with students who have no home training, are sexually active, distracted by cellphones and facebook, are violent and threatening. ( I am generalizing of course). After all of this, this gentleman and I do respect his views, is out there weeping and crying for relief from corporal punishment. Please. He should be focusing on other ways we can help these teachers and these students. Most students dont experience the corporal punishment.
In his own words, he says corporal punishment has a positive impact. Folks, it is a real world out there, frankly I believe in the "lean on me" movie approach, keep the good students in school, the ones who want to learn and those students who are consistently bad and always fighting etc. , release them and have them enroll in technical schools or in other institutions, so they dont hinder other students from learning. My dad was a principal and he has folks walking up to him all the time saying" I am glad you beat me", sometimes, this is the only option that gets their attention. If they old enough to get beat at home, they could get beaten at school.

Posted By: Inquiring Mind On: 2/22/2010

Title: Corporal Punishment

There is nothing wrong with corporal punishment in my opinion. As a child I understood when my grandmother spoke and growing up she used the rod of correction without fail after speaking. While it may have hurt for a brief period of time, she instilled in me the very fabric of what a civilized society requires from each law abiding citizen. Her words were both understandable and fair. She used beating as a last resort but did not pull back that beating when required. In my opinion corporal punishment is both warranted and needed within the school system. However, teachers must use this method with discretion and not spank children when angry or have not used alternative methods to correct misbehaviour. I have told my son that any adult who during the course of day observes him acting inappropriately or rudely towards another person or another person’s property, has the authority to spank him, and he is to tell me the moment he sees me of the spanking. At the moment he tells me, I then decide whether the punishment was warranted in my opinion (after talking to him is excess, to see if his story ‘holds water’), then its either another beating for acting in that manner (as my grandmother did to me when an adult told her of any infraction I committed) or I would have to tell talk to the offending adult about the issue.

Posted By: Sean On: 2/13/2010

Title: Ultimate Sense

"God" and "The Bible" are significantly valid "documents" in a Bahamian forum. They represent the foundation of most, if not all Bahamian thought and culture. What is extremely rare in the Bahamas is a lack of appreciation for the latter. Consequently, since this website is an electronic extension of Bahamian news media, "God" and "The Bible" have its rightful place.

Posted By: Common On: 2/11/2010

Title: Sense

a) The idea of 'god' and 'the bible' all being used as justification is ridiculous, there is an unbelievably large amount of evidence proving the falsification of both documents, and the existence of god. So to make this argument valid, any religious beliefs will be ignored.
b)Low IQs are linked to CP because people with low IQs are the ones who tend to be in those positions. Genetics have been linked to more aggressive behavior, and tendencies to cause more trouble is a side affect. (for more explanation, just research genetics)
c)I have been on the receiving end of CP, and in retrospect, i have found it works, and should be continued for the foreseeable future, as i'm now currently in boarding school in england, I can notice the difference in both behavior and respect towards teachers, never mind strangers. Inevitably there are exceptions, however the issue of behavior is far worse without CP.
d) I do agree though, that it should be regulated, and that whomever is receiving the CP should understand why beforehand.

Posted By: Kish On: 2/6/2010

Title: Corporal Punishment

Train up a child in the way he should grow," is self explanatory. A child should not grow up thinking that it is okay to whip another human. If we as adults should not beat each other, what message do we send our children (regarding "the way he should grow") when we beat them? There are other alternatives.
Further, when an adult beats another adult someone goes to jail, so why would we want to teach our children that a beating is the only resolution to a problem? You might as well teach them that stealing is also an acceptable form of punishment as neither violence or theft is an acceptable form of behavior in a civilized adult society.
The other part of the scripture i quoted states "that when he is old, he should not depart." It makes perfect sense to me then that some people now justify beating a child, or adult (as evidenced by the present rise in violent crime) because they never "departed" from what happened to them when they were children.
I think the ideology that corporal punishment is necessary comes from a slave/master mentality and not the word of God. Additionally, if beatings worked, slavery would still exist because we would have "listened" when we felt.
I urge the readers of this blog to be objective rather than just "go with the flow" with everything our parents did. We must know that our parents, who may have meant well, were human beings who may have erred.
Again, we must train our children on how to be responsible and law abiding adults. We must do this by example.

Posted By: B. Turnquest On: 1/24/2010

Title: Corporal Punishment

There is a saying that I often heard when either myself or one of my cousins were about to catch a cut hip, "If you don't listen, you ga feel". This statement is very relevant to corporal punishment in our schools as it encompasses an important fact. Beating (or spanking) should be a last measure when all other avenues of communication have failed. The fact of the matter is some people, young and old, while they might hear what you are saying are unable to comprehend it because they are not LISTENING. In situations such as that, which often occur within the school environment, a more tactile approach is often far more effective. As with all things, moderation as well as caution is necessary but I believe that the administration of CP is necessary in our schools. As for the comment about the study linking CP to lower IQs: I suspect the low IQs led to the CP, not the other way around.

Posted By: Glenn On: 1/6/2010

Title: Corporal Punishment

Mr. Barrington Brennen is a out of touch excuse for a Psychologist. He needs to spend a day in a public senior high school and I can assure him he would be confronted with reality and could see for himself why it cant be abolished.

Posted By: Max Davis On: 12/23/2009

Title: Corporal punishment

We must be very careful when we decide to copy other people's method and inject them into our life style. The neighbour to the west of us is having all sorts of problem with its young people because it has spare the rod. I am for corporal punishment in the schools and in the home. Corporal punishment does not equal child abuse. Before corporal punishment is administered the child must have been forewarned that such will be the consequence for such action if he or she commits such act. The children today have no fear because there is no consequence for their negative behaviour, I am not talking about Time out or taking away Privileges. Are we to wait until our children commit a serios crime and sent to jail before we realize that we have failed our child/children by spating the rod.
Think about these things.

Posted By: Raphael Thompson On: 12/20/2009

Title: Corporal Punishment

What psychological component in days gone by? Not in my family. You got licked up side your head and that was that. Yes violence in schools escalated due to the fact that students and parents now realise that classroom teachers are helpless to their rudeness and some parents never wanted their precious child to receive corporal punishment. Corporal punishment must be a part of our school system as it is a part of our home system but must be done consistently and fairly. There are some actions for which students must realise that there are serious consequences:biting, fighting, carrying or using weapons, sexual molestation, etc.There was a child who just walked up to another child and slapped their teeth out because his friend told him to do it. Did I cut his hip and the child who told him to do it? The big problem with corporal punishment is its use for petty infractions in schools, which I disagree with totally. While I was principal at Palmdale Primary I punished students for coming late until one morning a magistrate brought a student to school who he had struck down while driving to work. I asked the boy why he just ran across the street and he said that he did it so that he did not get beating for coming late. I discontinued that practice.
Our Government is not to blame, our whole system of justice in our homes, communities and country is to blame. Badness is still glorified and rewarded at times. If you want to use the Bible look at when Jesus himself got fed up and drove the sellers out of the house of the Lord. Corporal punishment is justified.

Posted By: Kish On: 12/20/2009

Title: Good Work

Thank you Mr Brennen for expounding on what is child abuse in the schools. Some of the comments that followed this article appear to have been submitted by a few seriously ignorant people with a computer. Their demise perhaps the result of being child abuse victims or perpetrators themselves. How dare anyone dismiss a little civil dialogue and instead favor of a vicious beating for not doing homework? I think it insults God when people suggest that His word somehow condones child abuse. Was it not Jesus who said "suffer the little children to come unto me"

Posted By: renaldo On: 11/25/2009

Title: too smart! Rom 1:22

i find it amazing that the society where mr Brennen recieved his training is graphling with much more severe problems than we are and yet he holds them up as if we are supposed to emulate their failures and GODless character. whenever you begin to believe that you know more than GOD's word teaches, you are already doomed to fail. Our problems began with disobedience and pride and every quick fix we try continues to leave us wanting, it is time to get back to basics and what we know worked, i vote for GOD everytime, HE has never and will never fail!

Posted By: Angelo On: 10/25/2009

Title: Brennen

I do not wish this but I wonder what Brennen would say if one of these darlings who do not get beat grows up and rape his wife in front of him? Or if they raped him instead. Brennen is an educated j^^&((

Posted By: Angelo On: 10/25/2009

Title: Brennen

I guess Brennen is saying that he is right and God is wrong. Let us go a step further. End capiatal punishment and sto locking people up in those smelly and small prison cells. Why punsih wrong doing as it is barbaric?

Posted By: Stanley Jackson Sr. On: 10/24/2009

Title: God Was Wrong?

Proverbs 13 verse 24 says "The one holding back the rod is hating his son". Barrington Brennen, a minister and nationally certified psychologist in the United States says God was wrong. Other ministers say the death penalty for murder as dictated by God is also wrong and homosexuals or lesbians in the pulpit is yet another area where God is wrong. No wonder the Bahamas and the world is in such a mess. Wisdom and teaching of men has surpassed that of GOD!

Posted By: Nadine Block On: 10/6/2009

Title: End Physical Punishment of Children

Thank you for bringing attention to the barbaric practice of hitting children in schools. The practice can lead to physical injury as well as alienation from school and psychological trauma. A recent study in the U.S. (Berlin @ et al) linked corporal punishment to lower IQ's and more aggressiveness. Research overwhelmingly shows that corporal punishment is harmful. Talking with children works better. When they grow up, we want our children to have learned to use words, not hitting, to solve problems.