POSITIVE DISCIPLINE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GOMBE STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR VALUE REORIENTATION

Abstract

This paper highlights positive discipline as an alternative to corporal punishment in Senior Secondary Schools in Gombe State. The paper discussed the concept of positive discipline, types and effects as well as the concept of corporal punishment, types, and its effects. Theories of discipline were also presented and discussed. The paper reviewed that positive discipline such as social praise, positive reinforcement and other forms of positive discipline are far more preferable and effective in correcting the bad behavior of a child than corporal punishment. It was therefore suggested that the senior secondary schools' administrators should endeavor to educate teachers, other school support disciplinarians, schools' prefects and parents on the effectiveness of positive discipline and the need to practice and consider it as an alternative to corporal punishment when correcting undesirable behaviour of a students in a school.