Extracted from the CADRES Survey done on behalf of the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) provided to BU with the compliments of Peter Wickham, Head of CADRES
The report speaks to the issue of corporal punishment and other major educational issues in Barbados, based on a July 2009 Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sponsored survey of a representative sample of adults and children across Barbados, along with other previous Caribbean Development Research Services (CADRES) surveys where these are relevant. It was commissioned as part of a BUT/UNICEF initiative to track public opinion trends on the use of corporal punishment against children as well as other issues of importance to the mandate of the Government of Barbados’ National Commission on Education.
The survey found that support for corporal punishment in schools has fallen precipitously since 2004 when it was 69% to a significantly lower marginal majority of Barbados at 54% in 2009. Additionally, students’/children’s opposition to corporal punishment in schools remains consistent. Currently 74% of children oppose this form of punishment in schools and this opposition has clearly solidified since 2004 when it was 56%.
However, corporal punishment in the home is another matter. An overwhelming majority of Barbadians (75%) still support and use corporal punishment in the home and while this support has fallen slightly since 2004 when it was 80%, it is still quite high and suggestive that Barbadians wish to maintain this form of punishment in the home at this time. Just over half of the students/children support the retention of corporal punishment in the home (54%) falling significantly from 76% in 2004.
With regards to corporal punishment it is interesting that opposition tends to follow a pattern that is influenced by age, gender and educational attainment. As a result it can be seen that support for corporal punishment is higher among older persons (51 years old and over) and persons who have had limited educational exposure (primary and secondary level). Conversely, younger people and those who have been exposed to tertiary and post-secondary education tend to oppose corporal punishment. Reference to the actual use of corporal punishment is consistent when relevant questions are asked of parents and children. It would appear that corporal punishment is used in a majority of cases (63%) across the island but is especially popular in large families and seems to be the preferred form of discipline by women; older persons and those men and women who are married, divorced and widowed.
On other educational issues, the survey noted declining support for the retention of the common entrance examination with support dropping from 58% in 2007 to 44% in 2009. There was an expression of support for mixed ability schooling (66%) and a desire for special schools for persons of outstanding academic ability (51%) along with those who are particularly challenged educationally (80%) and deviant (72%). There is similar support for a technical school (75%) and a belief that all teachers should be specially trained as such (91%). The public is, however, split regarding the issue of the school leaving age since 47% support it being raised to age 18 and 47% oppose that change, with the remainder not expressing an opinion on the issue. Some interesting permutations emerged here also since women and older persons clearly want it raised, while other segments of the population are not of the opinion that it needs to be raised.
Barbadians are similarly uncertain about the Principals’ ability to expel students with 53% supporting the retention of that power by Principals and a cumulative total of 47% not supporting the retention of that power. There is reasonable support for the banning of cell phone use in school by children (58%); however there is little excitement regarding the banning of cell phone use by teachers in class rooms by either adults or children (adults 54%, children 39%).
Finally, the survey spoke to the issue of the Challenor School which half of Barbadians (49%) believe should be taken over by government. The small majority also believes that tax payers should continue to fund education at the UWI (53%); however there is a significant core of Barbadians who think differently (40%).
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