By Elizabeth Uwandu

DIRECTOR of Studies, Addio Montessori Training Centre, Mrs. Ayopeju Folekulo, has said that the use of cane as correctional tool on young ones should be avoided.

In a piece entitled: A plea to Parents and Educators, all adults at large: Stop using the cane as a form of discipline, posted on  Concerned Parents and Educators, an online forum, Folekulo said it was time adults learned the arts of teaching that allow the inculcation of values rather than use of cane which has in recent times, caused physical, emotional and intellectual abuse on young ones.

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Her words: “I cannot even believe the extent that this evil has invaded our lives. I am so angry that defenseless children are continuously being invaded and abused daily. Yet, some of us have the guts to say it is the best way to discipline a child. Well, sorry to disappoint you: it is most certainly the worst way to discipline a child.

“Children have died, lost their eyesight, been marred for life both physically, emotionally and mentally. What is it going to take for us to truly embrace change? The fact that I was beaten black and blue in school and I am now well-behaved does not make it right. Neither does it mean that I turned out okay just because of those beatings.”

The founder of Montessori Nigeria Resources added that a lot of people are scared that if the use of the cane is banned, our children will get really bad, in-disciplined, unruly and uncultured. She said, “Well, most of them are already that way and it is not because the cane was not used. However, we need to wake up. Just as the art of parenting is no longer something we just do like a headless chicken, teaching skills need to be learned. Do not think that teaching means controlling the minds, time and life of your wards. They are human beings just like we are and they have rights

“In every family we should have family values that we instil in our children, through daily actions, teachings and practice. Also in our schools, we should have values we want to instil in our wards. What are your desires for them? Where do you see these children in the next 15, 25 years? I know what I want for the children in my care. So we work on it daily, intentionally, they learn what is right from what is wrong daily; step by step. Start from the beginning, the very early years and never stop teaching, showing by example and guiding these bright lights of our tomorrow towards their potential destinies,“ added Mrs Folekulo.