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- The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz--Words or Whip?
-
- The whip that a lion-tamer uses is the single most important tool that
- will assists him in successfully taming the lions. To demonstrate his
- point clearly to the beasts, he must thrash the lions with his
- blood-sucking whip whenever they perform an incorrect act. This is the
- only way that he can communicate with these low-intelligence animals,
- because lions cannot even understand the most indecent word in the
- English language. But as for humans, most of us are able to understand
- the language that the people around us speak. Therefore whipping,
- caning, strapping, or any kind of corporal punishments are not necessary
- -- they are reserved for animals only.
-
- Not too long ago, teachers at school and parents at home use various
- forms of corporal punishment on their students and children -- there are
- also several techniques associated with each of them. But as our
- society becomes more civilized, these savage acts are now looked upon
- with disdain and contempt. What used to be considered as corporal
- punishment is now considered as physical abuse. It should be thought of
- that way long ago.
-
- Physical abuse as penalty surely works. It arouses resentments and
- bitterness, but it works. If a student does something wrong and gets a
- whipping for it, he or she will cease doing the same erroneous act
- again. Though it will not change the way he or she thinks, but it WILL
- work. The student will not understand why he or she should not behave
- in that particular manner, and will continue to think that he or she is
- right, but physical abuse can stop them from doing it again -- it
- definitely works. But in long-term, some people are inclined to rebel
- against the authority who impose corporal punishments on them. Once
- they can overpower the authority, they will challenge their masters.
- Others, like Duddy Kravitz, they get used to their punishments and
- cannot care less for them. Duddy gets strapped so often that he
- virtually asks Mr. MacPherson for it.
- "So when he led Duddy Kravitz into the Medical Room that afternoon,
- breaking with a practice of twenty years, the actual blows were feeble,
- and it was Duddy who emerged triumphant, racing outside to greet his
- classmates."
- Duddy also excitedly announced to his peers: "Hey, look! Look, jerkos!
- Ten on each. Mac strapped me. Mac, of all people." Obviously, Duddy
- is no longer intimidated by strapping. Strapping or any kind of
- corporal punishment is not an effective way to change human behaviour
- because it simply cannot change peopleÆs minds.
-
- Humans, unlike animals, should be taught with words. If a student has
- done something wrong, instead of giving him or her a good strapping, a
- nice little chat would be more appropriate. The teacher must make the
- student understand what he or she has done and why it should not have
- been done. The teacher must make the student feel that he or she is
- wrong. That way, the awful act is unlikely to recur.
-
- Mr. MacPherson should be praised for his virtue of not strapping any
- boy. It is very good of him to understand the futility of corporal
- punishments. It is quite unfortunate that he gives up this virtue when
- finally can not stand the pressure of his wifeÆs death and DuddyÆs
- agitation.