School caning regulations
The “Student Code of Discipline” published by the Barbados Ministry of Education makes for interesting reading. It provides a long list of offences for which corporal punishment may be administered, and adds:
1. The Education Regulation 6(g) mandates that principals keep a book in which must be recorded breaches of discipline by pupils and any punishment or other action taken in respect of such breach;
2. The Education Regulation 18(j) makes provision for principals to administer corporal punishment when necessary and delegate to the deputy principal and senior teachers, where applicable, the authority to administer corporal punishment;
A separate document contains “Guidelines for the Administration of Corporal Punishment”:
Corporal punishment shall be moderate and reasonable but not be excessive or unduly severe. It shall be administered with a proper instrument.
Very great care should be exercised when administering corporal punishment, especially on female students. Where possible a female should administer corporal punishment on female students.
The principal shall administered corporal punishment and when necessary delegate to the deputy principal or senior teacher where applicable, such authority. The principal must declare who are the designees.
The student must be informed beforehand of the reason for punishment.
All corporal punishment must be recorded in the punishment book.
