When I Was Young

From TODAY, Voices
Thursday, 26-March-2009

I SAY
Foreign parents should be told of such punishment

Sarah Sum-Campbell

I AGREE whole-heartedly with Dr Rachel Kraut "To cane or not to cane" (March 24) that the Education Ministry should rethink and revise their policy of public caning in the Singapore school system.

It is well-documented in research that children witnessing violence suffer an equivalent if not more psychological damage than those on whom violence is inflicted.

Our daughter is two years old and my husband and I have already sworn off Singapore schools as we believe in a nurturing and enquiry mode of learning. We agree not to reprimand or put her down in public, especially in front of people with whom she has regular contact. She has yet to learn how to string a sentence together but she knows there are rules to play by and if she does not behave in public, she will not get to play outside of her home. It gives us joy to see her approach people with confidence.

Dr Kraut is right that if the Government is serious about engaging and retaining foreign talent, our education system should be seen to be fair, open-minded and conform to standards of other western systems.

Should the Education Ministry see fit that public whipping be retained in schools, perhaps foreign parents should be well informed beforehand, and be given the choice that should such treatment be meted out, their children have that choice to be left out.

The Government should also bear in mind that there are many Singaporeans who have spent significant periods of time overseas and do not agree with the philosophy of public caning.

I know a Singaporean couple who migrated because their child was very unhappy in school. A happy childhood and learning in a nurturing environment are topmost on parents' minds when they make decisions on where to live.

It would be such a pity if foreign talent is deterred from coming to Singapore because of our education system, and if Singapore loses her own born and bred sons and daughters for the same reason.

See www.todayonline.com/voices for more views on caning