Spare the Rod

Last week I had a marvelous time serving at the VBS style kid's club. Although I didn't participate in any skits, I was responsible for leading the young students in an hour of field games. The field was a dusty plot of land. There was one puddle over which I marched my troops before I had them run to and from a not-so-near fence to burn off some immediate energy. It was fun. I would have liked to learn more names but our week stay with over 100 kids did not really permit us to commit too many names to heart.

In between lessons I would go and sit outside with the youths and allow them to look at me. I wish I could say there was more structure to our time together but there was not. As unconventional as I may be in the midwest United States, I am all the more queer here. Piercings, hair, complexion, accent, word choice, clothing. It's all entertainment for them. I take no offense. 

Once while I was sitting being examined I witnessed a teacher hurrying some young boys to class but hitting them repeatedly with a long, thick stick. The boys winced but didn't yell. This was simply protocol. They were not moving fast enough for the teachers liking so they get hit. Corporal punishment is the means of discipline at many schools in Kenya. Although a bit unsettled by the sight of it, I was able to accept this practice as a cultural difference. Until the next day.

While sitting in the office of the school I witnessed a boy in the cast and this boy's mother sitting and speaking with the head teacher. Some days earlier this boy's wrist was broken as he was being discipline by a teacher with a rod. The boy had to go to the hospital and everything. I asked if anything would be done to the teacher and I was told that he was being made to apologize but that was it.

As a social worker what should I think of this?

That is a question I am consistently asking myself this semester. How do I adhere to the core value of social justice in this situation? It is good that the teacher is being made to apologize but more must be done. Proactive measures should be taken. If I speak up will I just sound like a naive American uncomfortable with the differences in public education? Does it matter what I sound like? Well I can tell you this I didn't say anything. I just felt too green. I had no standing with anyone. Since then however I've taken intentional steps to learn to what extents the institutions at which I serve (First Love, Karen C Primary) exercise their right to utilize corporal punishment. I want to know more before I interrupt a system.

Ahh ethical dilemmas. I'm thankful I took a 2 hour class at 8am on Friday mornings so I can know how to approach you.