We like to imagine schools as places where children are encouraged to explore their environment, to learn new things, and to expand their imaginations. But for many schoolchildren, both in the past and in the present, learning is a process distorted by fear of physical punishment. In this episode, we explore the history behind the belief that some children require fear and pain in order to learn.
Unfortunately, that belief is still with us, particularly when it comes to disciplinary measures deployed against children of color. We end the episode with a brief exploration of how some schools are seeking to offer alternatives to a disciplinary regime that has become so extreme critics refer to it as the school-to-prison pipeline. For related materials and a reading list, please visit thechildrenstablepodcast.com.