Corporal punishment- My own experience

What is corporal Punishment?

Corporal Punishment or physical Punishment is a punishment that is intended to cause physical pain to a person.

Why am I talking about it? It's because of an experience that happened around 20 years back and has scarred me for life. So, after two decades, I have decided to share it with the world; when I think about that day, I still get nightmares; it was one of the worst days of my life.

I vividly remember that day; it was the summer of 2002, and 3rd period in my school; I was in Standard VI and we Hindi class, the teacher was my friend's mother, and we both knew each other quite well. Madame used to stay 10 mins away from my house; every morning when I boarded the bus, I saw her and wished her Goodmorning, and I respected her a lot. However, that day, Madame looked quite upset and gloomy, she walked inside my class, and I thought to ask her but hesitated.

I was sitting on the second last bench and immediately opened the chapter upon seeing her.

Three boys were sitting behind me on the last bench; our school was co-ed, so we had boys and girls sitting together, I heard boys mocking her, and it was a routine of them calling out names to madam, which was not right; I looked behind. I told them not to do it, they laughed at as I turned my face I saw Madame standing with anger, she told me to get up, I was surprised, and didn't know why she was saying that, once I got up without saying anything she started slapping 1, 2, 3,4,5 and it continued, and finally she stopped it was 50. I was stunned; my head was down, my cheeks were heavy, and I was trembling, shaking, and crying nonstop; in fact, I went blank. After madam finished hitting me, she looked at the boys, told them to get up, scolded them, and left.

I could not comprehend why she beat me mercilessly for no fault of mine; later, I learned from another student that she had some issues at home which had spoiled her mood early morning.

On entering our class, hearing the boys calling out names aggravated her; she was unsure what to do and ended up making me a victim of her rage. It seemed like the most accessible coping mechanism to her; I don't know to this day if the student was right or lying. But that incident broke me entirely as a person, I know I was stopping the boys, and it was not my fault for which I suffered; I met my friend and her daughter post that incident multiple times but never asked her the reason; I met Madame also but didn't ask her why she hurt me so much. Even today, when I write these stories, I have tears in my eyes; I never told my parents about that day, as I was shocked from head to toe. Just a year back, I met Madame but again, I could not ask her, I get triggered at night remembering the incident, yet I never dare to ask Madame why she did it with me when I did nothing wrong. I want to ask Madame, one day and I will?

I am not afraid, I am fearless, yet I don't know what stops me from questioning someone who wronged me to such an extent.

I thought a lot and concluded that asking her would make her fall in her own eyes, and I don't want to make her feel it as she is 60 plus now and is growing old. I am an activist, and I fight for the rights of people.

I got humiliated in front of a class of 50 students. No one said a word knowing the truth about those boys.

What was my fault?

I tried to stop the boys.

I have been suffering for two decades and am suffering inside to date. I have forgiven madam, but I cannot forget what I got in return for trying to stop the boys from disrespecting her.

How can corporal punishment be stopped in schools. This is something i have been doing in schools.

1) Regular meetings with teachers and staff.

2) Focusing on the positive side of the child.

3) Create awareness on the evil effects of corporal punishment.

4) Every month i talk to each teacher individually and understand if there is anything bothering her personally and professionally.

5) Understanding the reality that teachers are humans and can lose temper and to channelize it positively.

I took a vow a decade back to stop corporal Punishment in schools, make teachers aware of the impact it leaves on a child's mind, and have been reaching out to all kinds of schools. Every year I reach around 20 schools doing campaigns about it.

I look forward to your feedback. World Pulse sisters