Are Stress Positions Corporal Punishment?

[robitusson]

Is a "stress position" corporal punishment?

Meaning when a child has to stand or sit or kneel in an uncomfortable position for a certain length of time as punishment. E.g. Standing with arms straight out to the side or maybe kneeling a up against the wall. Farang teachers can't and wouldn't hit children where I work but many use this method of punishment.

Is it acceptable?

Any opinions?

[Totster]

Is a "stress position" corporal punishment?

Meaning when a child has to stand or sit or kneel in an uncomfortable position for a certain length of time as punishment. E.g. Standing with arms straight out to the side or maybe kneeling a up against the wall. Farang teachers can't and wouldn't hit children where I work but many use this method of punishment.

Is it acceptable?

Any opinions?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I say unacceptable... they children, not soldiers

totster

[robitusson]

Seen it done? Ever do it?

[Totster]

Seen it done? Ever do it?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have seen it done, and been put in stress positions myself.

Stress Positions are used by the army as a tool for demorilising (sp?) prisoners before interrogation

totster

[PeaceBlondie]

It's less violent than directly striking the student. If done for only a short time, perhaps causing discomfort and loss of face but not causing physical pain, I guess it's not really 'corporal.' The word 'corporal' means to the body, though.

I had a disobedient kid in M1who kept getting out of his seat, despite my repeated commands to stay seated. So I stood over him at the chair and forced him to stay seated by pressing gently on his shoulders. Then I dismissed the class early and made him sit for another minute. That's just restraint, in my opinion.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

It's less violent than directly striking the student.  If done for only a short time, perhaps causing discomfort and loss of face but not causing physical pain, I guess it's not really 'corporal.'  The word 'corporal' means to the body, though.

I had a disobedient kid in M1who kept getting out of his seat, despite my repeated commands to stay seated.  So I stood over him at the chair and forced him to stay seated by pressing gently on his shoulders.  Then I dismissed the class early and made him sit for another minute.  That's just restraint, in my opinion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought farang teachers weren't supposed to touch students? Somebody told me this is the law, have I been mis-informed?

[PeaceBlondie]

To Westerners who are totally PC, heterophobic or homophobic, a phrase such as, 'You can't touch them' is meant in the most literal sense. In real life in Thailand, it's not quite the case. Watch the Thai teachers, and that's probably what you can do. A friendly tap on the shoulder, a pat on the back, maybe a mild swat when they're very naughty. If you do it and get reprimanded, consider who's reprimanding you. If it's a Thai ajarn, just say, "I see the Thai ajarns do that all the time, here at this school. Is there one rule for Farang, another for Thais?" If it's a farang ajarn, say, "Watch the Thais."

[Ijustwannateach]

In many English-speaking countries now, a teacher can be sued simply for the lightest touch on the shoulder of a student. I feel things have gone too far in such cases, and we will have to wait for the sorry, undisciplined results of yet another generation's ineffective educational fads to get the political support necessary to change things- with luck, not swinging back too far the other way to paddling and heavy military style disciplinary tactics. Moderation is the key, though rarely employed in planning for schools.

In Thailand, the students would find it weird, I think, if the teachers shied away from all contact with them. I regularly get students pulling on my arms, making mock-supplicatory hugs to beg me to be kind with my grading, etc., etc. I pat shoulders in praise and occasionally poke someone's back to indicate they should be moving along. None of this causes anyone to bat an eyelash in Thailand, and as far as I'm concerned, should cause anyone to bat an eyelash anywhere in the world.

"Steven"