CHILDREN’S SATIRICAL SONGS AS ALTERNATIVES TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENTS IN NIGERIAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS: THE YORUBA EXAMPLE

Abstract

This paper examines the application of children’s satirical songs as alternatives to corporal punishments among selected Public Primary Schools in rural communities of three different local governments in Ogun State. It investigates the context of performance as well as its lyrical content; in order to highlight the efficacy of satirical songs in enforcing discipline in schools. Through key-informant oral methods as primary source of data collection and review of related literature as secondary, the study relies on Sociological and Functional theories in Musicology as the premise for discourse. The research findings reveal that children satirical songs were songs composed by unknown individuals which are orally transmitted from generation to another in schools. These songs are performed by pupils in primary school to scold any child that exhibits unruly behaviour or negative attitudes towards learning. It is also observed that these songs have greater impact on the pupils as a measure to effect positive change in behaviour or attitude to learning than corporal punishments in schools. This paper concludes that satirical songs have provided alternative and efficacious measures to rewarding and correcting immoral behaviour or negative attitudes to learning among the primary school pupils. This paper therefore, suggests that the use of children satirical songs should be encouraged by the school authorities as an alternative to corporal punishment, which could inflict wounds or permanent disability in a child.