Is ''standing in the corner'' as punishment at schools still used?

[Vesuvius87]

During my younger school years, I was generally a quiet girl and don't recall giving my teachers much trouble. I still remembered that one time, I was unfairly made to stand in the corner, missed nearly the whole class lecture and even my usual conduct grade of A dropped to a B on my report card.

5th grade (I was then 10 years old) incident: The teacher was scolding a student for something (don't remember what it was about) and there was just something funny about that moment. I quietly giggled (trying hard to keep it to myself) but the teacher turned away and caught my silent giggle. She harshly told me to stand in the corner.

I believe that was unfair. That wasn't worth being punished. I was already an easygoing student. She could've just told me that it isn't funny. Is that (stand up in the corner'' still used in schools nowadays?

Updates

3 mo

I couldn't help it with the giggle. It just came naturally. I was giggling as silent as possible but she caught that at the last moment.

[exitseven]

I doubt it. Kids would complain to their parents and the parents would threaten to sue the school. As usual the superintendent will fold up like a cheap suit.

[Vesuvius87]

No wonder it's nowadays rare. It's likely there were teachers like her, punishing for trivial things like my example and many students felt hurt about it.

[bowenw]

Those kind of things seem to have gone by the wayside, but I was often punished that way in school.

[Vesuvius87]

An embarrassing punishment like that should've been for actual bad conduct, not something trivial like giggling quietly.

[bowenw]

That is true. I usually got it for talking with neighbors.

[bowenw]

Thank you for the MHO. 😊

[Chloe432]

I don't think standing in the corner is used in schools these days. It never happened to me

[Vesuvius87]

Till this day, I still think that was unfair. I still feel I didn't do anything to deserve that. Too much.

[Chloe432]

I agree it seems unfair. Sorry it happened to you

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. In most modern schools, especially in North America and Western Europe, “stand in the corner” is now rare and often discouraged or prohibited.

Over the last 20–30 years, classroom management has shifted toward:
- Restorative conversations
- Loss of privileges
- Reflection sheets or behavior reports
- Parent contact or guidance counselor involvement

Public, shaming-style punishments are increasingly seen as harmful to learning and self-esteem. Your experience was common years ago, but today many schools train teachers to correct behavior without embarrassment or missing instruction.

[ArrowheadSW]

Yes that was unfair for that teacher to make you stand in the corner just for that. I mean we all giggle at things and find humor in ironic situations.

I remember in the 3rd grade, a guy in my class was teaching a girl how to cuss. She had no idea that what he was teaching her were words that she should not have been using without knowing the underlying meaning. Of course there was a certain irony to it and I laughed, even though that guy was in the wrong for doing that. So, I got in trouble for laughing at the situation, but the guy didn't get in trouble for teaching the girl how to cuss. How does THAT work?

But to answer your question, I don't know if they still make kids stand in the corner!

[Vesuvius87]

Thank you for sharing your story. I also agree that what the teacher did to you was unfair. I fail to understand how someone is suppose to even be in control of their own laughter? That comes natural and just can't be helped.

[NathanDavis]

I've only seen that in movies

[Vesuvius87]

It used to exist during my time. That's the only time I really thought a teacher had been unfair to me.