In the school we are not allowed to touch the little darlings, no matter what they are doing or have done. Can't even suspend them, legally. All I have to do is touch my belt and they scatter so most of them must get the belt at home as well as the flip-flops. I'm of mixed mind on this. I received the belt on the hands in grade eight for fighting and yes it at least deferred the fighting until after school, off school property. Hurt like hell. My mother would whack us with whatever she could pick up and she wasn't particular whose kid was whose if she caught us doing wrong.
Times have changed. Reasoning does work with many children and there are alternate non-violent repercussions for misbehaviour but it's hard to take something away from a child that doesn't have much in the way of possessions or privileges.
Times have changed. Even in France, I remember a professor who used to slap us (that was in middle school). My mother always told them in school to not touch me, she would take care of me if needed, which was way worse
It s hard to say, so many times, the beatings occur for the wrong reasons. For example, I remember growing up, a lot of kids would get beaten because they brought back bad grades but what is the point of beating a child cause he got an F ? A tutor would be more effective.
It breaks my heart because I remember in primary school, at least 3 girls in my classes who would be beaten up so bad, they would show me the scars afterward (one, her mother would pinched her skin on her stomach until she bled
), but I never thought anything of it because we were not taught about these stuffs. Now, that I look back, I am sure, it would be considered abuse (and it was !). So, I tend to think that it is an area where it doesn't hurt if the government is involved to a certain extend or at least have the kids/educator educated about these issues.