Lesson 8: Corporal Punishment
There’s a fine line between physical punishment and abuse.

I can read and understand an article about corporal punishment.

INTRODUCE

Like in many countries, the use of corporal punishment at school is illegal in Japan. In fact in 2020, a law was amended to explicitly and clearly state that all forms of corporal punishment against children are strictly prohibited. However, according to a survey in 2021, a certain percentage of Japanese adults still believe that using corporal punishment on children is a necessary form of discipline.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and choose T for true or F for false. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.

    1. To discipline someone means to punish a person for not following the rules.

    My aunt thinks that spanking is the right way to discipline her children.

    It’s okay for parents to spank their children in order to discipline them. ( T / F )

     

     

    2. If there’s a fine line between something and something, it means two things are so similar that one can easily become the other. This is commonly used when one thing is acceptable and the other is not.

    When I became a dad, I learned that there’s a fine line between looking out for my daughter’s safety and being overprotective.

    I think there’s a fine line between being curious and being nosy. ( T / F )

     

     

    3.                                                                .

    I tell my students that when they have disagreements, it’s better to resolve them using their words rather than their fists.

    Q: What do you think use one’s words means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to express that you don’t dislike something or someone.

    I don’t get why so many people seem to dislike Tony.

    Yeah, same here. I have nothing against him. He seems like a really good guy.

UNDERSTAND

READING

This is a blog post about corporal punishment in schools.

Let’s React: Issues Around the Globe and More


Corporal Punishment in Schools

This week, I’ll be focusing on another pressing global issue: corporal punishment in schools.

Some people say corporal punishment is necessary because there’s no other way to make students listen to their teachers. They believe that students’ attitude and behavior will improve through physical punishment. Some of them even argue that they experienced corporal punishment as kids and were not mentally scarred from it.

However, others feel that corporal punishment is both mentally and physically harmful for students. They say that there’s a fine line between physical punishment and abuse, and it’s easy to go a bit too far when the punishment is a hit or a slap. Also, teachers are constantly telling their students to use their words instead of fighting, so what will students think if they see their teachers breaking their own rules and getting physical? It could cause them to lose trust in their teachers.

What about you? Do you support or oppose corporal punishment in schools? Tell me what you think in the comments below.

COMMENTS

Linda B: I can’t believe corporal punishment in schools is still happening in this day and age! School officials should know by now that using violence is not the right way to discipline students!

Chris Choi: Honestly, I have nothing against teachers using corporal punishment unless, of course, someone gets really hurt. Some kids just don’t listen to anything other than a smack on the wrist.

 

TRIVIA

In many western countries such as the UK, US, and Sweden, it is illegal for teachers to practice corporal punishment. If caught physically disciplining students, they will lose their teaching license and may even go to jail.

PRACTICE

Choose the best follow-up sentences.

1.

Tutor: Why don’t you like Annie? She’s responsible and smart.

Student: I know she’s bright, but there’s a fine line between being smart and being a show-off! __________.

  • It’s annoying how she always wants to answer all the questions first.
  • It’s nice that she always answers the questions before anyone else.

 

2.

Tutor: Ugh! My brother’s kids were so rowdy. They kept on misbehaving at the restaurant last night.

Student: Parents these days don’t know how to discipline their children. __________.

  • If I were a parent, I would make sure to scold my kids for misbehaving.
  • They should let their kids do whatever they want.

 

3.

Tutor: Oh, that must have made you so mad!

Student: It did, but I remembered what my mom said about using my words to solve arguments.__________.

  • That’s why I punched him as hard as I could!
  • I tried my best to stay calm and just explain my position.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your friend is an elementary school teacher. Read a blog post about a father’s take on the use of corporal punishment. Then, talk to your friend about whether or not corporal punishment should be used by teachers.

Today's Expressions

  • discipline someone
  • there’s a fine line between something and something
  • use one’s words

Speak Your Mind

  • I have nothing against…

Tough Love: Is It Really Needed?
January 25
by Victor Pike

While browsing online, I read a survey in 2021 that said around 40% to 70% of Japanese adults believe it is occasionally necessary to use corporal punishment when disciplining children. It appears that some adults here consider corporal punishment to be a “guidance,” in other words, a way to discipline children in order to “help” them behave properly. As a father, I have a hard time accepting this. Just the thought of someone hitting my daughter makes me so angry! It’s actually illegal to exercise corporal punishment in Japan, but the problem is that there are still people here with the old mentality that if they physically discipline their children, the children are bound to be more mature and law-abiding adults in the future. Recently there were incidents of corporal punishment in Japan that went viral online and caused an intense debate on social media platforms. I have nothing against parents, adults, and teachers correcting children’s inappropriate behavior, but I think there’s a fine line between disciplining children and abusing them. Instead of promoting violence, why don’t we show our kids the value of using their words?

Challenge 2

What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.

If Time
Allows
1

DISCIPLINE
2

A FINE LINE
1

DISCIPLINE

  1. How were you disciplined as a child?
  2. Did the way you were disciplined make an impact on you as an adult?
  3. How would you discipline your own children?

2A FINE LINE

  1. Where’s the line between confidence and arrogance?
  2. Where’s the line between helping someone and letting them become over-dependent?
  3. Where’s the line between being assertive and being aggressive?

FEEDBACK

I can read and understand an article about corporal punishment.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK