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The rod is only way we know

Helpless teachers say they are forced to use corporal punishment because pupils swear at them and refuse to do their work.

This came out of a round-table discussion hosted by the South African Human Rights Commission on corporal punishment in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, yesterday.

Teachers who took part in the discussion said even though they were aware it was unlawful to use corporal punishment, they find themselves helpless as they do not have alternatives to use to discipline pupils.

"Children do not do their work and when you try and find out why, they swear at you. These learners use vulgar language on us. What must we do as teachers if we are not allowed to use corporal punishment?" said a teacher.

Corporal punishment has been outlawed for 19 years but many teachers still administer it.

According to a 2012 Statistics SA general household survey, 2.2-million pupils were still being subjected to corporal punishment.

In its 2013/14 annual report, the South African Council of Educators revealed that it has seen a "sharp increase" in the number of reported cases of teachers who still apply corporal punishment.

In all, 202 cases of corporal punishment were reported to the council.

Yesterday, Sowetan reported that a vice-principal at Ramashobohle High School at Mankweng, in Limpopo, is facing criminal charges after he allegedly beat a pupil with a broomstick, dislocating her wrist.

However, teachers speaking during the discussion said emphasis was put on the rights of pupils and less was said about how teachers' rights were abused by pupils.

"As a teacher, you stand in front of a class with 70 children and you find that it's only 40 children who did their work. Imagine how that teacher is supposed to feel.

"That is emotional abuse and those are some of the things that trigger educators to continue to practise corporal punishment," said a teacher.

Loyiso Mpondo, a senior legal officer of the Human Rights Commission in the province, said teachers were failing to find out the challenges experienced by pupils and instead use the easy way out by applying corporal punishment.

However, another teacher said because teachers were under so much pressure they found it difficult sometimes to pay attention to the individual needs of pupils.

Sowetan reported recently that the Congress of South African Students has encouraged pupils to retaliate when teachers use corporal punishment on them.

macupeb@sowetan.co.za