The transformation of corporal punishment: a case study of a middle school in China

• In Event: Schools, Violence, and Student Mental Health

Abstract

Corporal punishment has been a common practice in Chinese education. However, empirical evidence on how it takes place remains rather limited. In this paper, using data collected through eight months of ethnography in a middle school in China, we explore its current status quo and the reasons behind it. We found that while the prevalence of corporal punishment may be declining, soft violence has been widely practiced. We further reveal three main factors contributing to the transformation of corporal punishment in Chinese schools, including de-moralization of teachers, resistance and even suicide threats from students, and supervision from parents and media. Through the case study of a middle school, this paper sheds light on how corporal punishment occurs in Chinese schools and contributes to the literature on the civilizing process in China.

Authors

• Qixuan Sun, University of Macao

• Jianhua Xu, University of Macau