Singapore introduces caning for boys who bully others at school (theguardian.com)

Article summary

Singapore has introduced caning as a punishment for male students aged 9 and above who bully others, including through cyberbullying, as a last resort. The punishment will be administered by authorized teachers and will only be used after other measures have been tried. Caning will not be used for female students, who will instead face punishments such as detention and suspension. The move follows a year-long review of bullying in schools and aims to address the issue through stricter measures.

Main themes

• Corporal punishment
• Bullying in schools
• Discipline and punishment
• Education policy
• Child welfare

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that caning is an effective deterrent against bullying and that it can help to teach children about the consequences of their actions.
• Others argue that caning is a form of abuse and that it can cause long-term physical and emotional harm to children.
• A few commenters suggest that bullying can be effectively addressed through alternative means, such as counseling and community-based approaches.
• Some argue that the onus should be on the bully's parents to take responsibility for their child's behavior and to work with the school to address the issue.
• There is disagreement about whether caning is an appropriate punishment for children, with some arguing that it is too harsh and others believing that it is necessary to maintain discipline.
• A few commenters share personal anecdotes about being bullied and how they wish they had been able to defend themselves or had received more support from authorities.
• Some commenters believe that caning is not an effective solution to bullying and that it may even exacerbate the problem by creating a culture of violence and fear.
• Others argue that caning is a necessary measure to protect victims of bullying and to maintain order in schools.