23rd September 2011 14:51
By Blue Tutors
This is the latest news from the world of education this week. Over half of parents questioned in a survey carried out by the Times Education Supplement said that they would like to see a return to corporal punishment in order to restore order in schools. The poll was commissioned as Education secretary Michael Gove launced a new campaign, saying that we 'need to show children who's boss'.
Whilst politicians and parents seem keen to give teachers extreme disciplinary powers, teaching unions have said that the move would not be welcomed by teachers, who feel that the move would be unproductive and barbaric. Whilst teachers have suffered in recent years through lack of power in the classroom, a return to corporal punishment is not the answer that they are looking for. One union leader commented that hitting children with sticks is not something that people do in a civilised society. We should all hope that Gove takes this thought on board when pursuing education reform.