Corporal Punishment Should Not Return To British Schools
- by: Judy Molland
- recipient: British Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove
In response to the recent riots in England, Michael Gove, the education secretary, is allowing the return of corporal punishment to British schools. According to Gove, this is the only way to restore adult authority in the classroom.
In addition, Gove also announced that the government is planning to start a program encouraging former members of the armed forces to take up teaching.
Please sign our petition asking Secretary Gove to reconsider these two decisions.
We the undersigned,
Have read about your decision to allow corporal punishment in British schools, in response to the recent rioting in London and other parts of England.
We also understand that you propose to encourage former members of the armed services to take up teaching.
Corporal punishment in British state schools was outlawed in 1987 for very good reasons: it is more harmful than beneficial, and it compromises the educational environment by injuring students, dissolving the trust between teacher and student, and distracting students from learning. Managing classroom behavior is vital for a healthy learning environment, but corporal punishment should never be a part of this.
In light of this, please reconsider your decision to bring corporal punishment back into British schools.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
