One of the reasons Raising Voices did so much work with the media was to begin a ‘National Dialogue’ on violence against children. They wanted people to start talking and thinking about it. This was because the research study done in 2005 showed that lots of adults think violence against children is normal or a good thing. Many teachers don’t see corporal punishment as violence but a way of making children learn.

Willington Ssekadde, from Raising Voices, says:

“The current teaching methodologies do not engage children. Success is based on narrow indicators like passing exams and memorising everything the teacher writes on the blackboard. Force, intimidation and humiliation of children is in turn exerted. Besides teachers not using creative teaching methodologies, teachers are not motivated. They use corporal punishment as a quick short cut of passing on their frustration to children about the work they are doing. What can children do to motivate people who are supposed to be their role models? It is a situation of having bored children in classes and demotivated teachers worsenining the situation.

Punishment is often confused with disciplining. Teachers and parents claim they are not beating children to harm them but help them. Children are left with no space for expression all under the guise of discipline. In Uganda [in] feedback from radio programs, TV talkshow, community events and interactions, a lot of people say things like "Spare the rod and spoil the child, no gain without pain, I was beaten as a child so I learnt to behave well..." as beliefs to harass children."

Logira Sambey, from Save the Children in Uganda, agrees: “Parents are beginning to slowly appreciate that child rights need to be respected. Initially they thought this would make the children big-headed and disrespectful."

Logira adds that children live “in violent environments where it becomes nearly normal for such punishments to be given.” Also, she says that it can be hard for children to participate in actions against corporal punishment because some people “still believe that children know nothing and so have nothing to offer in their partcipation”. In addition, “children here are also involved in herding cattle alongside their parents and many do not have time to participate”.

Not everyone in the original ‘Good Schools’ agreed with the idea of not using corporal punishment. Willington also says:

“In St. Peters Primary School Kanyanya, the headmistress Winifred Byansi reported that several parents… insist[ed] that they can not have their children in a school which does not beat them. In fact, she confessed to knowing at least four parents who took away their children as a result.

She said, "Even some teachers could not imagine a school without a cane. [But, although] it was hard at the begining, a lot of orientation, commitment, and persistance is all we needed to see us achieving something... We have had tremendous success as children are now happy with the school. Our major challenge is to engage the community more. A pupil at one time approached me and asked: If we are not beaten at school, why does it happen at home?".

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