Those who can't teach, teach teachers.

Fiona Hook, London,

Great article! I just retired from the educational system in the U.S. and found the same problems. In fact, my school district even belonged to an organization that studies the issue of minority student achievement. Knowing how well Ghanaian children do when they go to Universities in the U.S., I could not understand the phenomenon of low achievement when these same children receive their K-12 education in the U.S. Although they would never admit it, U.S. teachers generally have low expectations of black children, while in Ghana and the Carribean, everyone is expected to do his or her very best, and children relate to that. You get exactly what you teach to get. In the west, the problem is more teacher capability and expectations than it is low student achievement.

Dr. Martha Hunter, Lauderhill, FL U.S.A

One of the reasons why kids at school today behave badly is because they get enough discipline what so ever. What is writing lines, exclusion from school leisure activities and detentions really going to do for a difficult pupil. In their eyes because the teachers can touch them they don't care about anything the teacher has to say. Sometimes difficult children who are obviously taking the wrong paths need some discipline in their lives, not "you're grounded". There is however limits to the degree of discipline they should receive but when a child is getting out of hand then good discipline is needed to attain respect from them.

Ida Ofori, London,

Sitting here in Birmingham UK as a magistrate I look back at the discipline that I was taught while growing up in the Caribbean island of Dominica and take great pride in how it has shape and moulded me. I got my share of the cane at the St Mary's Academy - but it was more than just that. In the Caribbean, like in Africa, discipline is a package. It involves your family, your community, your faith, your school and your play. It was not something which happened in one area of your life i.e. school and absent in other areas i.e. play; it was a total package involving every aspect of ones life. And that is what has broken down in the West. How do we regain this here? This is a question for all elements of our society - families, government, faith groups, communities, and schools, all of us.

Gerald La Touche JP, Birmingham, England UK

I never spanked my children either, and they have both turned
out great. They both say they were afraid of not doing well, I
think i was just lucky.

pat phillips, gastonia , n.c usa

I taught elementary school in the US for 14 years after retiring from the US federal government at the age of 51.
I never met a "bad child". I had some children who at the beginning of the school year were problems, but they changed to seeing the world in my way and became more like my own children. I see some of them every now and then and they still give my a "hug" and then tell their children what a good teacher I had been.
That is true satisfaction and pleasure.
I understand what goes on in these schools. This type of discipline is good for some children. I approve.

Robert Cowger, Poteet, Texas USA

It's not so much to do with the cane in my opinion. I received many schoolboy canings in Britain and it never deterred me. It's just that the West is irredeemably sick.

john newson, bovec, slovenia

I didn't beat my children,in fact I have never laid a hand on them,and they have turned out just fine.They are now in their thirties with famlies of their own.Where did I go wrong?

ron, toronto,

Bravo for those parents who have the foresight to give their children a good education while securing a bright future for them! As an American, I can assure you that there is a movement in America that is quite advanced that discourages a disciplined work ethic to be taught in the government run schools. Like the UK, we end up with a generation of thugs and a decline in both our countries.

I echo Andrew Milner in Japan, here.

Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Dream on UK and American-based teachers.

Randy Williams, San Francisco, USA

Thank God for the cane when I was at school. I dread to think how I could have turned out without the odd "correction". Even when I didn't get caught the fear of caning limited my misbehaviour.
Evolution has enabled us to feel pain so we know we are in trouble. It is the most effective and natural way of modifying behaviour.

Ian, Chester,

It's the bloody self-serving governments and near-sighted do-gooders in the 'advanced world' so called, who have gone away from the good old fashioned discipline! I am from the caribbean and my mother had six canes for her six children.
Not one of us has ever had even a misdemeanour outside of our home!
Time to go back to the old ways and put parents or granma back in charge of the home!

RF

Reggie Fryer, Seattle, USA/WA

Britain's problem has long been adulation of the yob. British education's problem has long been the inadequacy of British teachers in controlllng the yob or providing a template for correct behaviour. In Britain 'those who can, do; those who can't, teach; and those who can't teach, teach.'

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

I know a parent whose child was receiving suspensions from school at the age of only 8/9. Horror reports were coming out from everyone.
Then the parents up sticks in September of 2005 to West Africa they came back in December of the same year on holidays, it was a relavation of transformation the child is a model pupil at his work,in schol, and his general behaviour examplary.
How did it happen the rod played a great part. Politicians wake up anarchy is looming animals need reining in, out of control children need correction not mullifying.

Henry, London, UK

Spare the rod, spoil the child.
Dream on UK-based teachers.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan