"SPARE the rod and spoil the child" may be a common refrain for previous generations. For today's youngsters, however, the stereotypical image of the cane-wielding school teacher may well be on its way to history.

Caning in schools is increasingly unpopular and public caning has practically become taboo.

But the recent spate of serious disciplinary cases has raised questions on whether the cane should be banned altogether.

According to Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong, the distinction between caning in private and public is clear.

"Public caning should never happen in schools. Caning should be confined to the principal's office and handled privately," he says.

Wee, who is also head of the Committee on Controlling Disciplinary Problems in Schools, adds that the school environment should be conducive for students to receive an education.

"The real purpose of caning is to maintain a certain amount of discipline and order in schools, not to humiliate or embarrass students as it would be counter-productive."

Wee says a new directive issued by the ministry last week states that certain procedures must be followed before any caning. Among them is that schools must inform parents of the student's offence. They should also state when and where he will be caned.

Caning should only be carried out by school principals, or disciplinary teachers, as delegated by the former.

It should also be reserved only for serious offences such as fighting or smoking on school grounds. And counselling must be given to the students after the punishment, to make sure they understand what they did wrong and why they were caned.

After all, "there is no point in merely executing the school rules if students are not taught to obey them on their own accord," Dr Wee adds.

Don't touch me!

In recent years, there has been a shift in disciplinary measures for school children.

New-generation parents who are better-educated are also more outspoken. The result? They will not hesitate to 'intercept' when it comes to certain school rules.

Although caning in school has never been ruled out, some teachers have chosen not to touch their students at all, simply to avoid having to answer to angry parents.

Alice Lim*, an English and Mathematics teacher in a Klang Valley primary school, says: "We were never allowed to cane students. But nowadays, I am not even allowed to raise my voice or shout at my pupils because they will complain to their parents."

Without the principal to back her up, it is difficult for her to 'confront' parents, even if their child was in the wrong, Lim adds.

"To a certain extent, parental intervention in schools has made our job more difficult. As teachers, we are obliged to carry out certain things. It is tough enough having to deal with disciplinary problems in school without the unecessary input from parents.

"Children today know how to take advantage of their teachers so it is important that as teachers we know how to be strict with them without (resorting to) the physical element."

Daphne Lee, a mother of three, feels that the cane as a disciplinary tool should only be used by parents.

"I think caning should only be carried out by the child's parents because I feel some teachers cannot be trusted not to abuse their power if they are allowed to do so."

While Lee does not believe that caning should be completely written off, she says factors such as a child's personality, and the reasons that call for discipline should be considered before wielding the rod.

Having been caned in her school days, she remembers that the punishment provoked resentment rather than respect for her teacher.

Caning aside, Lee strongly opposes disciplinary methods like writing lines, standing outside the classroom, and name-calling a child, which she terms a 'waste of time'.

Rather, if a child does something wrong, "he should be set extra work that requires him to make a real effort" and be counselled about his behaviour, Lee suggests.

On the other hand, not all parents believe the cane should be hung up at home.

T. Ravinder has no qualms about having his children caned by their teachers. "If they've done something wrong, then I'd say go ahead," said the father of two.

"In my day, if you came home and complained about being caned, you'd get a few strokes from your parents as well."

Ravinder thinks that sometimes there is no other alternative but to cane a student.

"As long as they are made to understand why they are being punished, I don't see any problem with caning students."

Drastic consequences

UKM senior lecturer in clinical psychology Dr Ng Lai Oon believes that while caning may work as a disciplinary tool, teachers have to be prepared for the 'side effects'.

"If you ask old school teachers, they would say that caning actually works quite well. However, we have to understand that caning is something that can trigger side effects, such as anger, rebellion and fear."

Where public caning is concerned, the element of shame involved may have drastic consequences.

He cites an extreme example of a 14-year-old boy who developed split personalities after being caned publicly in school.

Dr Ng's personal stand, however, is that caning should not be an option at all, as it is a form of aggression and violence.

"Sometimes, this act of violence is acted out in childplay - children punish their dolls or scold them - because these are scenes they are familiar with."

Through his clinical experience, he has seen many who have suffered some kind of psychology consequence as a result of caning, be it short- or long-term.

Is there a difference between discipline and punishment?

"Discipline involves both punishment and reward. A child should understand that wrongdoing has consequences and if they do something wrong, they have to be prepared to face the consequence. On the other hand, they can also be rewarded if they do well."

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) representative in Malaysia, Youssouf Oomar, says caning infringes on the rights of a child to learn in a safe educational environment.

"Aside from physical and psychological injuries, destructive punishment also creates a cycle of violence, whereby children tend to be more aggressive and resort to bullying and vandalism as a means to solving their problems."

Youssouf adds that UNICEF has been working with the Education Ministry and HELP University College since last year to carry out a project on positive discipline.

"We're developing materials as well as training teachers to use alternative models of discipline instead of corporal punishment, as well as conducting bullying intervention programmes."

The good ol' days

For Jonathan Wong Wei Choy, 23, the cane was the weapon of choice of teachers who tried to maintain control over his all-boys school.

"I was caned throughout high school, mostly for minor offences such as talking during assembly and not paying attention in class. The punishment would be doled out on the spot."

Although unaffected by the whole experience, Jonathan does not wish the same fate for students.

"For one, it definitely did not change my behaviour - we were all caned so many times that it became a joke. Secondly, I think it sends out the wrong message to children - it tells them that violence can induce obedience."

Daniel Lim, now an accountant living in Australia, thinks caning should be enforced in schools as his experience of being caned made him a better person.

"The fear of getting caned is a pretty good control lever," he says. "I was quite a good boy in high school because that fear kept me from causing mischief."

As for the pyschological scars, Daniel reports that neither he nor his peers suffer from low self-esteem. In fact, they are all confident about themselves.

"I just think it's sexist that girls were made to pick up rubbish instead (of being caned)."

However, not all girls are lucky enough to escape the sting of the stick. Graphic design student Athirah Naim says that she and her gal pals were caned for so many small 'offences' that she can hardly remember what these were now.

"I think it was for things like forgetting my homework, failing a test, not bringing my physical education uniform, having long fingernails and so on."

Athirah, 23, concedes that the boys in her school had it worse.

"We would just get smacked on the palm or on our legs. The boys were caned on their rear ends. Of course, they tended to cause more trouble, such as painting graffitti on the school walls, and fighting."

She feels that teachers should practise 'discriminate caning' when all other disciplinary methods have failed.

"I definitely agree with bringing back the cane though - students today are so out of control!"

Students who got the rod every so often had to find a way out - or, at least, a way to lessen the intensity of the punishment.

Jane Lim, 23, remembers the days when she took an 'anti-pain toolkit' to school, comprising toothpaste and glue.

"We used to smear them on our hands just before we went in front of the classroom to be caned. They worked quite well in reducing the pain."

While the debate over whether the cane is an indispensible instrument of discipline or a politically incorrect tool will persist, some see the swishing rod as just another unremarkable part of school life.

"I was caned in secondary school for smoking," said a 20-year-old college student who wishes to remain anonymous.

"It didn't affect me then, it doesn't affect me now. After a while, the teachers just gave up and told me not to smoke in front of other students."

* Not her real name

--The Star/ANN