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Further implications
Despite the wealth of studies noting the apparently adverse effects of corporal punishment, it is difficult to make absolute claims about these adverse effects as definitions of corporal punishment and measures of its severity vary widely and the range of variables, including the child's socio-economic background; the stability of the family unit and any pre-existence mental health issues are difficult to control for.
What appears more certain is that corporal punishment cannot be positively correlated to either improved student academic outcomes or improved student behaviour. Indeed there is some data to suggest that corporal punishment may have a negative effect on academic achievement. Given this, it is difficult to understand why any educationalist would argue in its favour. There may not be conclusive evidence of the harm it does, but there is no evidence to suggest that it has any positive effects.
There is no significant Australian educational theorist or group of lobbyists calling for the general reintroduction of corporal punishment in Australian schools. Further, the federal Education Minister, Christopher Pyne, immediately indicated, after Kevin Donnelly's statement supporting corporal punishment, that the federal government was not promoting such a policy and that it was an area for the states to decide. Even Kevin Donnelly was merely giving his personal opinion on the likely effectiveness of corporal punishment when he spoke on 2UE in July 2014. He did not appear to be seriously contending that it should be reintroduced.
The issue has only attracted media attention because of the current position of Professor Donnelly. He is one of two academics appointed by the federal government to review the new Australian Curriculum. As such, the views he has expressed regarding corporal punishment have been seen as an indicator of his general conservatism. Critics have used his remarks on corporal punishment to express their concerns that he may be equally conservative or out-of-touch in his attitude to curriculum.
Dr Kevin Donnelly is Director of Education Standards Institute and author of the recently released Australia's Education Revolution: How Kevin Rudd Won and Lost the Education Wars. Education Standards Institute is a Melbourne-based education think-tank established by Dr Kevin Donnelly. He is also a senior research fellow at the Australian Catholic University.
Kevin Donnelly is a former member of state and national curriculum bodies, including the Year 12 English Panel of Examiners, the Victorian Board of Studies and the federally funded Discovering Democracy program.
On the Education Standard's Institute's website, it says it 'favours an education system based on standards, equity, diversity and choice and the values and institutions that promote liberty, democracy, an open and free society and a commitment to Christian beliefs and values'.
His views on religion, homosexuality and gender in education have divided opinion and caused widespread criticism over his appointment as co-head of the review into the National School Curriculum with Ken Wiltshire.
Donnelly taught for 18 years in government and non-government schools and was a branch president of the Victorian Secondary Teachers Association. In 2004 he was chief-of-staff to Liberal Party Minister, Kevin Andrews.
The Donnelly-Wiltshire Review of the Australian Curriculum was due at the end of July, 2014. It had not been released by mid-August 2014.