Foucault’s Discipline and Punishment: Analysis of People’s Perception about Govt. of Punjab’s Policy of “Mar Nahi Pyar” for School Education Department

Abstract

Aim of the Study: Corporal punishment is considered to be an effective form of disciplining technique for modifying student’s behavior. This paper is an attempt to evaluate the policy of “mar nahi pyar” introduced by Govt. of Punjab to understand the myths about corporal punishments in schools and its psycho social impact on students.

Methodology: The study is qualitative in nature. In-depth interviews of twenty parents of school going children, twenty students and twenty teachers are conducted to find out their opinions about implementation and outcomes of this policy. Interview data is analyzed descriptively in the light of Foucault’s concept of discipline and punishment.

Findings: Analysis of interview data suggests that teachers believe that they use corporal punishment as a disciplining technique on the docile bodies of children for bringing desired behavioral changes in them. They argue this policy will ultimately result in devaluation of teachers by disobedient students. Parents argue that teachers should punish their children but there must be a difference between physical violence and punishment. Children are highly against corporal punishment but they do accept that they are good in those subjects whose teachers are strict.

Conclusion: After analyzing their opinions, it is concluded this policy need to be revised keeping in mind the Foucault’s idea of better punishment not lesser punishment depending upon the social context and changing power relations of classrooms.