I believe my students are confident they will always get a fair hearing, and they will not be subject to abuse of powers. I think that’s very important – and my point is, it can be done without abolition.
I agree with that but how do you define fairness and whose definition should you use: the child’s or yours? Punishing children more or less severely for no reason other than their sex is manifestly unfair but some people seem to think it is fair. How do you resolve that? If you treat a child unfairly you’re highly likely to cause resentment and do considerable harm. Even if you try to be fair, by your own definition, the child might not consider it so and will react accordingly. I know how I would have reacted if I had been treated unfairly at school – my behaviour would have seriously deteriorated.