Corporal Punishment in Indian Schools: Caste System Context

• In Event: 49.089 - Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: 49.089-7 - Teachers' and Students' Perceptions in Global Classrooms

Abstract

Students from lower castes are disproportionately punished in Indian schools (Owen, 2011; UNICEF, 2012). However, very little has been done to understand why teachers use more corporal punishment on lower caste students compared to higher caste students. This qualitative case study utilizes data collected through observations and interviews with thirty-one teachers and six principals in Delhi, India to examine teachers’ perceptions of corporal punishment. More specifically, this study examines why corporal punishment is a pervasive disciplinary tool for lower caste students. The findings reveal that corporal punishment primarily depends on the cultural orientation of educators. Additionally, the findings indicate that personal experiences and belief systems could predict the administration of corporal punishment (Garland, 1991; Hyman, 1990).

Author

• Ashwini Tiwari, University of Houston - Downtown