DEFINITIONS of abuse include inhumane treatment, wrong or improper or excessive use of power.  As persons in authority over children, we possess power over them.  Any inhumane treatment, wrong, improper or excessive use of that power constitutes abuse.

In their letters of April 13 (Stabroek News) and April 21 (Guyana Chronicle) respectively on this topic, both Vidya Kissoon and Prem Misir posit the need to “protect children from harm and providing the best environment for their development” that they “grow up in nurturing environments”.  This I contend is not subject to contextual factors nor societal pressures nor cultural norms, but an absolute.

We as persons in authority over children must exercise everything necessary to protect and nurture them, and to do the best we can to provide them with the environment and foundational competencies to succeed.  This, I believe, is their right and our responsibility.

Discipline is about accountability.  Accountability and responsibility are related and both are about leadership.  There are other means of instilling leadership traits beside abuse.