Our generation has never known a time when corporal punishment was allowed, so it is difficult for us to understand that some teachers may feel poorly equipped now that the cane has gone.
| As we grow up we become more unruly and less like sheep. |
Most teachers, too, recognise the sanity of the 1987 legislation, which protects childrens rights in the classroom.
From our experience, a dwindling minority who still favour, the clip around the ear or rap across the knuckles - though they feel strengthened when cases such as head teacher Marjorie Evans hit the headlines.
For most of the pupils we spoke to, the issue was not how children could be forced to behave better, but how teachers could be encouraged to treat their pupils better.
Holly, 15 rejects corporal punishment. It is wrong to hit kids, you could shout at them, give them detention or something but you shouldnt hit them.
Most pupils do respect their teachers, she believes, but warns, if the teacher is cheeky to them theyll be cheeky back.
Primary school student Conor, 10 agrees: As we grow up we become more unruly and less like sheep.
By the time pupils reach adolescence, they will react very badly to a teacher who tries to control them. As young people grow and start developing into adults they are going to continually push the teacher and try to get independence, says 17-year-old schoolboy Ryan, and teachers try in a sense, to take this independence away.
This only causes trouble, he thinks, if there are problems at home: Sometimes young people push to the absolute limits, sometimes maybe it is to get a thrill to see what the teacher is going to do or just for the hell of it but basically, it depends on the childs background. The child is knows that their parents will do nothing, he or she will continually push.
Ryan believes that those students who constantly land themselves in trouble need counselling, not more punishment. Parents and schools have to work in partnership when a childs behaviour becomes an issue.
According to some of the young people we interviewed physical reprimand is still sometimes used in the classroom. (and they werent talking about duster lobbing or a little arm grabbing none of which was considered threatening, but simply a sign that a teacher had lost their cool.)
For lower sixth year student Drew, 17 it all boils down to mutual respect.
Teachers that are very calm and talk things through are the best. They get more respect because you can relate to them and be on more of an equal footing, he said.
The message being clearly written on the school blackboard by young people is they want an ounce of respect and their views to be heard.
About the team
This article was produced by Drew Mikhael, 17, Mairead Duffy, Margeruite McNiel, and Thomas Kielty, 15, and Michael Leathem, 14. A version of it was published in The Guardian education section.
