Well things are no better discipline wise than when I was in school and we were caned...In fact they are worse.
However as I said earlier in this thread it's too late.Caning has gone for good.It won't be returning so it's a moot point to argue about it.
I also said I take comfort in that most children turn out to be decent human beings and even some of those that cause most of the trouble may well turn themselves around eventually.
The problem with the present system is it is much more damaging to disruptive children in the long run.They run the gamut of the low level punishment of detention,isolation,inclusion up to suspension.Suspension can last from a day up a month or so.Eventually these accrue into months.This is all time away from a full time education.
Finally when their personal file is inches thick and they commit the sin that breaks the camel's back and here comes expulsion.More time away from education until another school can be found unless their parents win a reprieve until the next time.
If the child cannot mend their ways they may not survive the probationary period at a new school and it's back to no education while an alternative is sorted unless the original school will agree to take them back.
So time absent from full time education builds up..and the child is finding it harder and harder to keep up when they are in school so they take to bunking off for which they and possibly their parents will face further repercussions and they get further and further behind.GCSE results are bound to be disappointing under those conditions
But luckily that just applies to a small number of students.
In the meantime those who are decent hard-working students face continual disruption from the hard nuts and more staff are required to deal with those who are disruptive. But that's OK because no one gets hurt in the process.
