In a school survey, students were asked what they thought their teachers could do better, to which Ava Morrison-Bell, an 11-year-old girl from Glasgow, gave an answer that her teachers surely did not expect.
The girl's father, writer Gavin Bell, also known as Mason Cross, posted the photo of the answer on his Twitter account in which Ava notes that the collective punishments that the school mentions when punishing the whole class are considered 'war crimes' by the Geneva Convention.
He quickly went viral because of how ingenious and blunt he has been. "My daughter gave this answer at her school. I'm not sure if I should reprimand her or buy her ice cream," Bell wrote.
"Do not use collective punishment because they are not fair to people who did nothing and under the 1949 Geneva Convention are considered war crimes," was the girl's brutal response.My daughter actually submitted this feedback at school. Not sure if I should ground her or buy her ice cream… pic.twitter.com/4v8Gjb9riv
- Mason Cross (@MasonCrossBooks) May 25, 2017
The girl is absolutely right. According to the international treaties signed in the Geneva Convention in 1949 established by the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for the Defense of Human Rights (Part 2, Article 4, 2b), torture, slavery, terrorist acts and punishments collective (impose punishment on a whole group for a crime committed by a member) they are considered war crimes.
The reactions of admiration to the response of the child were massive (there are also those who questioned the truthfulness of the answer), although the writer explained in another tweet that he wanted to make it clear that his daughter considers her teacher to be wonderful and just wanted to criticize the system of educational justice. Later, he published this photo in which the girl appears not with one but with two ice creams as a prize along with the message: "People have spoken."
The people have spoken. pic.twitter.com/lW2n3sd7Nq
- Mason Cross (@MasonCrossBooks) May 25, 2017
Punishments to the whole class, abuse of power
The girl's response has made me reflect on the punishments that are still imposed in schools. A practice that has been going on for years without anyone being so blunt to report them As this girl has been with her response.
Collective punishments are those imposed on the entire class when it is impossible to identify the person responsible for a "crime." From leaving them without recess or after hours, to cleaning the class among everyone. Is this not abuse of power? Where is the presumption of innocence of children, a fundamental right of people?
The majority is punished for a fact that one or a few have committed. Given the impossibility of identifying the "culprit", the easy solution is sought. But it is not the problem of the other children, but of the teacher or ultimately of the school to define a strategy for these situations, since it is unfair that they "pay just for sinners." It is believed that because of solidarity towards his companions, the person in charge will give the face or a partner will accuse him, but when neither one nor the other happens, everyone pays.
The guilt of the child who has done something wrong is diluted in collective guilt, which is also not educational for the person in charge who will not correct his action. And on the other hand, it can promote revenge towards the culprit of other children who have been unfairly punished.
In the era in which we live, I believe that if we want to educate children in democracy and freedom, this It is a practice that should be eradicated from classrooms, like the corner or the thinking chair (which I hope will not continue in the classroom). If we want children to learn to be responsible for their actions, supportive and that they really modify misconduct, the punishments of decades ago are not the solution. What do you think?
