ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences Vol 10 No 6 November 2019 67 . Research Article © 2019 Ukpabio et.al.. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/). Revisiting Disciplinary Control in Secondary Schools: The Issue of Corporal Punishment in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria Dr. Godfrey E. Ukpabio Dr. Mbon F. Usen Dr. Comfort Etor Department of Educational Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria Doi: 10.36941/mjss-2019-0080 Abstract This research investigated the administration of corporal punishment as a disciplinary control mechanism in secondary schools of Nigeria with particular reference to Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. The concept of corporal punishment as a disciplinary control mechanism with the social issues associated with it was discussed. Three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study which adopted survey research design. A questionnaire titled: "Corporal Punishment and Disciplinary Control Questionnaire" (CPDCQ)was the instrument for data collection. The simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 200 teachers for this study. The data obtained was analyzed using Independent t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that there is a significant difference in the administration of corporal punishment as a disciplinary control mechanism in secondary schools of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State based on teachers’ gender and teachers’ teaching experience. The findings also revealed that there is a significant difference in the administration of corporal punishment as a disciplinary control mechanism of teachers working in public or private secondary schools in the study area. It was recommended among other things that since appropriate application of corporal punishment is associated with disciplinary control in these schools, a mechanism be put in place to guide usage and to check abuses. Keywords: Disciplinary Control, Secondary Schools, Corporal Punishment Introduction 1. Teaching and learning is said to flourish more in peaceful and orderly environments. Compliance of students to school proceedings is of utmost importance in creating such environments. Children in secondary schools are often observed to have problems of concentration and teachers regularly express frustration in arresting their attention. This level of education host children from different backgrounds, beliefs and value systems, thus demanding that activities and interactions be supervised for their own good, safety and general effectiveness of the school. Furthermore, for students to be wielded into an effective unit, and an environment of tranquility, control and discipline created for effective teaching and learning, a proactive behavioral management mechanism is desired. According to Farooq (2014), school disciplinary control system for regulating students and keeping schools and classrooms in order consists of three principal strategies: code of conduct, punishment and other behavioral management methods. Many suggest that corporal punishment,