Teachers' Perception On The Effectiveness Of Physical Punishment As A Disciplinary Measure In Selected Secondary Schools In Ile-Ife, Osun State

Abstract

The study evaluated secondary school teachers' perception on the effectiveness of physical punishment as a disciplinary measure in selected secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Osun State. This was with a view of exploring the effects of physical punishment in encouraging or discouraging secondary school students from delinquent and violent acts.
The quantitative data for the study was collected from 230 teachers in 12 purposively selected secondary schools through simple random sampling technique. The quantitative data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The Qualitative data collected through In-depth Interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were analysed using the TextBase Beta. The study revealed that there was no significant relationship (F-val=.145, P≤0.05, X2-val=.243, P≤0.05, and t-val=.135, P≤ 0.05 respectively) between teachers' demographic attributes such as (age, level of education and sex) and their perception. It was also revealed that teacher's length of service had no significant influence (X2-val=.713, P ≤ 0.05) on their perception. Also, there was a significant relationship (r-val .000, P ≤ 0.05) between teachers' perception and frequent adoption of physical punishment. However, the Qualitative analysis showed the influence of religion on teachers' perception, (King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs [13:24]), (Proverbs 22:15, KJV) and (Proverbs 23:13, 15, KJV). In conclusion, physical punishment was perceived as an effective disciplinary measure for correcting and maintaining discipline among secondary school students as well as, in molding and shaping their cognitive and psychosocial growth and developmental ability.


Keywords: Physical Punishment, Violent act, Psychosocial Behaviour, Discipline and Perception

IFE PsychologIA Vol. 16 (2) 2008: pp. 275-294