Corporal Punishment was a physical form of punishing a student up until 1990. It has been defined as 'the intentional infliction of physical pain as a method of changing behavior.' This method of punishment included beating the students with a cane, belt, hand or stick on numerous body parts. On the 23rd of July 1990 the New Zealand Government banned Corporal Punishment officially to every school in New Zealand. But why was Corporal Punishment phased out of all New Zealand schools, including Takapuna Grammar School?

With Social Pressure, Corporal punishment was phased out at different times throughout individual schools around New Zealand. Parents became more aware of the punishments being inflicted on their sons, and didn't like the fact that teachers could physically punish their sons for either minor or major reasons. Corporal Punishment was beginning to be regarded as old fashioned and not necessarily effective. Takapuna Grammar Staff decided to phase Corporal Punishment out well before the Government stepped in, abolishing Corporal Punishment in late 1981. The method to phase this punishment out in New Zealand was controversial, as some said letting parents and students know would cause chaos and students would misbehave. Takapuna Grammar had a staff vote to abolish the Physical Punishment and once decided that Corporal Punishment was no longer going to be used at the school, the phase out happened silently. This silent method worked well for the school as the Students and parents did not notice.

 Punishments throughout schools in New Zealand are not nearly as harsh as they used to be in the past. Corporal Punishment was a main factor in punishing students until 1990, where people's attitudes changed towards physical punishments. Now-days the punishments received are detentions, impositions and litter duties, which was also what was received in the past for minor offenses. Physical punishments were given for the same reasons as children now-days are given detentions, incorrect behavior, breaking school rules and being rude.   

What were teachers attitudes towards Corporal Punishments? Were they a factor in the phase out of Corporal Punishment?

Some Teachers that had been brought up with Corporal Punishment at their childhood schools believed that it was the most effective way of punishing a child, and they enjoyed doing it. Others thought that there should be another effective was of punishing a student, and that Corporal punishment was too harsh for children. When the phase out of Corporal punishment happened, there was an even amount of agreement and disagreement. Now-days, because of the change of attitudes over the years, teachers could never inflict physical punishment on a child, and most would prefer to give detentions.