Let the Beatings Commence

We witnessed today the corporal punishment of a group of 6-7 secondary school boys (high school equivalent age) being beaten across the street from us!

         With a group of adults, including some of their parents, watching-- their teacher had them line up on their hands and knees and was beating them with his belt, while shouting at them.

The secondary students laying down in a row while the teacher beat them with a strap one by one.

  A little shocked, I asked my house girl what was going on.  She said that they were caught skipping school and smoking weed in the woods behind our house.  The secondary school is next to our house.

A first I was appalled at these boys being beaten and publically humiliated.  However, in Swahili culture, it is appropriate for them to be beaten and especially shamed for their wrongdoings.  Their parents and teachers want the best for them, and want to "put the fear of God" into them, so to speak.

              When I was growing up, our principal was allowed to "paddle" us if the teachers couldn't control us.  Now, when my kids were in school that would never have been allowed.  Are we too soft?  Is there a place for corporal punishment for wrong behavior?