Parents’ Perception of the Relationship between Discipline and Abuse of Students by Teachers in Delta State Post Primary Education
Abstract
The study spotlights parents’ perception of the relationship between discipline and abuse of students by teachers in Delta State post-primary education. Discipline in educational settings is a crucial aspect of student development, aimed at teaching responsibility, respect, and self-control. However, the line between discipline and abuse can often become blurred; leading to a range of perceptions among parents regarding what constitutes acceptable disciplinary practices that does not infringe on the rights of the child. This uncertainty can result in conflicts between parents, teachers, and schools, and potentially affect students' educational experiences and well-being. Qualitative and quantitative survey were deployed using ex-post facto design. The sample used for this study is 250 parents, 25 teachers and 25 students in the study area. The sampling procedure used was the stratified random sampling technique. This was done by dividing the total population into smaller groups known as strata and taking random samples from each group. Questionnaire titled “Parents’ Perception of Discipline and Abuse Questionnaire - PPDAQ” was used as the instrument to collect data from participants. The researcher administered a total of 250 questionnaires to randomly selected participants in the study area. Simple percentages, mean scores, standard deviation and coefficient of determination using 2.50 as a benchmark to provide answers to the research questions. Pearson Product Moment Statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. In conclusion, parents’ perception of the relationship between discipline and abuse of students by teachers varies and is widely influenced by different factors such as cultural background, socio-economic status, religious beliefs, personal experiences etc. It therefore recommended that educational stakeholders such as government, policy-makers, educational institutions, teachers and parents should develop and implement positive disciplinary policies that prioritize students’ well-being and safety.
Downloads
References
Ajayi, B. (2019). Perceptions of Teachers on the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools: A Case of Kang Secondary Schools. Res. J. Educ. Sci .3(6):1-6.
Alan, S.B; George, W.H & Rose, A (2015). Spank, Slap, or Hit? How Labels Alter Perceptions of Child Discipline. Psychol. Violence.
Bandura, A (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W.H. Freeman.
Bear, G.G (2020). Twenty-Eight Years after the Complete Ban on the Physical Punishment of Children in Finland: Trends and Psychological Concomitants. Aggressive Behavior, 9999:1-4.
Dereje, W., Nega, J & Amenti, B (2014). The Dilemma of Corporal Punishment of Children from Parents’ Perspective in Some Selected Rural and Urban Communities of Jimma Zone, Oromo/Ethiopia. Global J. Human- Social Science: 15(4):1-12.
Durrant, .ED & Ensom, J.N (2022). Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting. Third Edition.
Epstein, S.M (2021). A meta-analysis of the published research on the affective, cognitive, and behavioural effects of corporal punishment. J. Psychol. 138(3):197–222.
Felson RB, Lane J (2009). Social Learning, sexual and physical abuse, and adult crime. Aggressive Behavior, 35:489-501.
Gebru, G.G & Gebreslassie, K.L (2017). Corporal Punishment of Children in School: A Critical Review of Literature Review. Int. J. Advancement Res. Technol., .6(5):2278-7763
Gershoff, E.T & Grogan-Kaylor, A (2016). Spanking and child outcomes: Old controversies and new meta-analysis. J. Family Psychol., 30:453-469.
Gershoff, E.T (2017). School corporal punishment in global perspective: Prevalence, outcomes and efforts at intervention, Psychology. Health Med, .22 (1):224-239.
Gilliam, A (2020). Corporal punishment of children in Rwanda: Briefing for the Universal Periodic Review, 23RD Session
Haidt, P.N & Joseph, G. ( 2017). The Toybag of Canes and Canning. (Toybag Guide). San Francisco: Greenery Press.
Jones, W.T (2023). World Report on Violence against children, UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children, New York: United Nations.
Marcos, M; Jared, D. & Sandra, S (2016). Corporal Punishment and Externalizing Behaviors in Toddlers: The Moderating Role of Positive and Harsh Parenting. J. Family Psychol. THE American Psychological Association. 30(8):887-895.
Marcus, R (2014). Child protection violation of children’s rights to protection in low-and middle –income countries. A review of evidence, London: Overseas Development Institute.
Mina, E (2013). Corporal and Degrading Punishment of Children in Rwanda: Promoting Positive Discipline at school and at home, Unpublished Master Thesis, Freie Universities Berlin.
Omoshola, P. (2021). Corporal punishment in schools: Issues and challenges. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(9), 493-500.
Paris, H. (2022). Bridges to Adulthood. Understanding the Lifelong Influence on Men’s Childhood Experiences of Violence. Analyzing Data from the International Men and Gender Equity Survey. Washington DC: International Center for Research on Women.
Saunders, B.J (2013). Ending the physical punishment of children by parents in the English-speaking world: The impact of language, tradition and law. The International J. Children’s Rights, .21 (2):278-304.
Seidman, I. E. (2023). Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences. New York: Teachers College Press.
Shumba, A. (2023). Children's Rights in Schools: What do teachers know? Child Abuse 12, 251-260.
Tiller, T.N (2020). Genders Violence in Poverty Contexts: The educational challenge, London : Routledge
The authors and co-authors warrant that the article is their original work, does not infringe any copyright, and has not been published elsewhere. By submitting the article to GPH-International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, the authors agree that the journal has the right to retract or remove the article in case of proven ethical misconduct.
Firozpur Jhirka, Haryana, India
