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Stop hurting children

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-22 08:06

A teacher used an electric iron on seven of her students in a kindergarten in Xinghua city, Jiangsu province, because they talked in class. When there is violence against kindergarten students, discussions are always carried out between parents and the schools. Education departments have not been visible in independent investigations of cases of corporal punishment on children.

When the punishment is so disproportionate to the children's behavior, the government should intervene and re-establish the rules and regulations for China's early childhood education.

Our hearts ache for the seven children, whose faces were burnt badly. We are also infuriated at the severity of the teacher's punishment.

The government of Xinghua city, in dealing with the case, tried its best to trivialize the seriousness of the matter. To keep its kindergarten's image, the government called the abuser a social worker instead of a teacher. Moreover, it went into a tailspin by saying the seven children were hurt accidentally.

All these clearly show the local government had neglected its duty. The teacher's acts constitute sheer violence against children. Her use of corporal punishment cannot be justified under any circumstances.

The central and local governments pay a lot of attention to establishing kindergartens. What they should be more concerned about is the abuse of kindergarten children.

Parents become anxious when they cannot find a kindergarten for their children. They should be more anxious and fearful about their children's safety if teachers are free to abuse children. Violence against children is an evil of long standing in our kindergartens.

Physical punishment should no longer be tolerated as it infringes on children's basic human rights, and should be banned in all kindergartens and schools. The government needs to deliberate on how to improve the quality and safety of preschool education. Kindergartens should be places where children find learning to be a joy.

Corporal punishment has to stop. If not, we'll have students going through their lives not thinking for themselves, but only doing things solely based on the fear of reprisal.

Sweden became the first country to forbid all forms of violence against children 31 years ago. Since then, the majority of the 47 Council of Europe members have followed.

We should not teach children that it is acceptable to "resolve" disagreements with violence. They should be taught by example to listen and discuss. Living under a constant threat of violence is detrimental for a growing and developing young person.