A Study of Reactions of Secondary School Students to the Use of Corporal Punishment in Schools

The present study aims to investigate the reactions of secondary school students towards the use ofcorporal punishment in schools. A sample of 200 students (100 boys and 100 girls) from governmentand private schools in Patiala were selected. Additionally, 60 teachers (30 from each school type) weresurveyed to understand their perspectives on the justification and use of corporal punishment. Datawas collected using self-prepared questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferentialstatistics. The results revealed that a significant number of students still experience corporalpunishment for various academic and behavioural reasons, despite its ban. Boys and students fromgovernment schools reported stronger reactions compared to girls and private school students. Whilea majority of teachers opposed corporal punishment, a notable percentage justified its use in certainsituations due to institutional challenges like overcrowded classrooms and lack of resources.The study concludes that corporal punishment adversely affects students emotional and academic wellbeing.It emphasizes the urgent need for awareness, teacher training, and adoption of positivedisciplinary practices in schools.