Singapore introduces caning for boys who bully others at school

andsoitis

> International groups such as Unicef, the UN’s agency for children, oppose the use of corporal punishment for children, saying it harms their physical and mental health, and increases behavioural problems over time. Based on what rigorous research does Unicef draw that conclusion?

lioeters

Solution against bullies: a bigger bully.

thijson

I understand that caning leaves lifetime scars, at least the type I heard about. It's not something you can put weight on for a while.

oompydoompy74

I didn’t expect to open the comments and find people who were pro beating children on Hacker News. I find this abuse horrific and you should speak to a therapist if you think this is okay. Absolutely barbaric behavior.

commandersaki

I wonder how severe a caning in an educational institute compares to one administered by state justice.

ButlerianJihad

The only times I got hit were when I deserved it, was asking for it, and pushed that adult over the tipping point. So that was all completely just. My peers learned they could trigger me in the same way, and were always careful to be subtle and passive, lest they also get punished. I suppose that is also, street justice.

lava_pidgeon

Btw, besides using violence on school children is barbaric this action is also sexism. Young boys generally suffer more from violence. Now the teacher can add it. Besides, why is the teacher right? They make mistakes , they can be racist etc. Just stupd

quiet35

I see at least 2 issues with the physical punishment: - it will only make the bullies taking their revenge on vulnerable ones with even more cruelty. And they will plan it carefully to be hard/impossible to prove. It will lead to the escalation, not to the resolution - the power will be abused, it's inevitable. I would be so scared to be in a class where "teacher" has the power to harm me physically! (to clarify: I am very much out of the school age, but just thinking about this perspective is making me feel uneasy) So what is the possible solution then? Protect those who are vulnerable. And work with bullies to resolve/ease their life issues. I suspect most of them do what they do because of tough situation in family. In severe cases, I can think of suspension or exclusion from school or another kind of isolation. Probably way better than showing ALL kids that violence is a fine casual way to solve issues. Applying violence to kids is not the way to make them stop applying violence to others.