Punishment in education

Definition

Punishment in child rearing is a controversial issue. Until well into the 20th century, punishment was one of the cornerstones of child rearing. Punishment can look very different, so in the 19th century a beating was common.

Today, children are at least legally protected from physical violence. The BGB §1631 states that children have a right to a non-violent upbringing. Punishments in education still exist, but these look quite different today. A punishment can be a television ban or a ban on games.

What is allowed?

A punishment is either an unpleasant consequence or consequence that follows negative behaviour of the child or the ending or absence of a situation that is pleasant for the child as a consequence of his or her behaviour. Mild punishments are permitted. For example, if a child does not clean up his or her child’s room as agreed, a penalty may be that the child has to put the dishwasher in and take it out of the dishwasher for the next few days.

Another example is when an older child comes home much too late again after football training. Then the punishment can be that the child is not allowed to go to football training for a week. The child then has to give up a pleasant situation and, in the best case, learns from the misconduct. Permitted are for example: prohibition of television, renouncement of computer or mobile phone renouncement of pleasant things as a consequence (football training, playing with friends) house arrest domestic service (e.g. putting in and taking out the dishwasher for 3 days)

  • Ban on television, no computer or mobile phone
  • Doing without pleasant things as a consequence (football training, playing with friends)
  • House arrest
  • Household service (e.g. putting in and taking out the dishwasher for 3 days)

What is not allowed?

Children have a right to an upbringing free of violence, without exception. This means that any form of physical punishment and mental injury is absolutely forbidden. A pat on the bottom, a slap on the face and even more drastic measures such as hitting with a cane or belt, as was common in the past, are strictly forbidden.

Violence against children as punishment in education is not allowed under any circumstances. Any form of punishment that injures the child’s soul is also forbidden. Furthermore, children should not be punished too often, this weakens the children’s self-esteem and causes lack of motivation and passivity.

Punishment should only be used when the child can learn from the logical consequences of the wrongdoing. He must be able to understand the consequences of his actions. This means that punishments that the child cannot comprehend are not allowed, as they serve no purpose.

If a punishment is a consequence of the child’s actions, there is a logical consequence for the child – the child learns from its behaviour. If the child’s behaviour leads to a consequence that is associated with the absence of a pleasant situation (e.g. football training), the child will try to avoid this in future. Since the child wants to go on to football training, the child will be punctual in future.

Children learn that there are consequences to their behaviour. In this way they learn to follow rules, which makes their school life or later their professional life less complicated. A so-called mixed form of permissive and authoritarian education is called “authoritative education“.

  • If a punishment is a consequence of the child’s actions, there is a logical consequence for the child – the child learns from its behaviour. – If the child’s behaviour leads to a consequence that is associated with the absence of a pleasant situation (e.g. football training), the child will try to avoid this in the future. Since the child wants to go on to football training, the child will be punctual in future.
  • Children learn that there are consequences to their behaviour. In this way they learn to follow rules, which makes their school life or later their professional life less complicated. Frequent punishments lead to a lack of self-esteem.

The child loses its motivation and becomes increasingly passive over time. Punishments that are not logically related to the child’s misconduct are not understood by the child. It is then not able to correct its misconduct.

Punishments in education can create a distance between the child and the parents. The child may develop fear of doing something wrong or disappointing the parents. – Frequent punishments lead to the child’s lack of self-esteem.

The child loses its motivation and becomes increasingly passive over time. – Punishments that are not logically related to the child’s misconduct are not understood by the child. It is then not able to correct its misconduct. – Punishments in education can create a distance between the child and the parents. The child may develop fear of doing something wrong or disappointing the parents.