Arguments

Using passive voice to organise important points

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Using passive voice in Caning is not the answer

The following text is a letter to the editor of a daily newspaper. The writer is arguing that corporal punishment is not acceptable in local schools.

The words in bold highlight the subject of the verb; dark red bold is used to highlight verbs in passive voice, and dark red to highlight the agent .

Caning is not the answer

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion in the press about declining standards of behaviour in schools, and I agree this is certainly a problem that needs to be dealt with. However, corporal punishment is not the answer. I was rather disturbed to find that some people are seriously suggesting that caning be reintroduced in schools.

No doubt there will always be parents who believe it is normal to hit their children when they have been naughty, and most reasonable people would accept that fair punishment within a family is normal. But a firm smack from a loving parent is very different from a painful beating [which is] administered by a strict teacher. Do we really want to see violence institutionalised in our schools? I am shocked to find that some people (in what is supposed to be an enlightened society) believe that introducing violence into the education system is the appropriate response to troublesome students.

Of course, advocates of corporal punishment would probably argue that strict discipline will make life easier for busy, stressed-out teachers, and it is true that the majority of students would indeed be better behaved - but only because they will be too terrified to cause any trouble. Who knows what serious psychological problems they may suffer later in life as a result of being educated in a climate of fear and violence. And what about those students who are from broken homes, or who have serious personal problems? I think that if teachers use corporal punishment in trying to deal with difficult students, it could prove to be counter-productive, and instead of making them more obedient, they may become even more rebellious. There is also the likelihood of certain students turning to drugs and possibly, a life of crime.

Teachers are education professionals, and they should listen to these young people, make a real effort to understand their problems and try to help them with counselling and practical advice. This will be far more effective than using corporal punishment.

(Adapted from a letter to the editor in South China Morning Post 21/3/98)

Introduction
Using passive voice in Two wheel solution
Using passive voice in Caning is not the answer