UK Christian schools fight for right to cane

Christian Century, Sept 22, 1999

A group of 40 Christian schools in the United Kingdom has launched a legal fight for the fight to administer corporal punishment to pupils--a practice which was outlawed in all schools by the British Parliament early this month. The 40 schools, which say they have the support of parents, are seeking to have the ban overturned in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. As of September 1, Britain's School Standards and Framework Act includes a ban on corporal punishment in private schools. A similar ban in state-run schools was introduced in 1987.

Corporal punishment, on the hand or the backside, with a range of implements including the teacher's hand, a birch, a cane, a paddle and a slipper, has a long history in Britain, where it used to be regarded by some as character-forming and good for discipline. Well into the 20th century it was common in leading private schools for senior boys, known as prefects, to be authorized to cane junior boys.

Phil Williamson, head teacher of the Christian Fellowship School in Liverpool, which is one of the schools opposing the corporal punishment ban, confirmed that since the passing of the legislation the school has stopped such punishment, but is actively pursuing the appeal to the European Court. "This is an issue of parental fights and parental choice," he said. "For us, parents should have the fight for the values and standards of the home to apply in the school. Physical punishment within a loving relationship has been tried and tested for centuries. It's part of the Judeo-Christian heritage." --ENI