Corporal punishment – lingers defiantly

THE incident of 42 students being meted out brutal punishment by a teacher in a school at Bagha upazila and the subsequent reaction, equally violent, brings to the fore the issue of corporal punishment for the umpteenth time. That so many students can be summarily beaten up for refusing to pay for a picnic, preparations for which had not materialised, is unacceptable. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child' is an archaic practice which should have fallen in disuse by now. The only difference in this case was that the guardians of the victimised children applied 'raw' justice to the errant school authority, the Headmaster. Sadly, the gentleman lost two of his teeth and ended up in the hospital. 

Although we understand the frustration of the parents, yet they should have taken recourse to authorities' intervention in the matter, rather than taking the law into their own hands. 

How many more incidents of corporal punishment must occur before we wake up and take notice that such behaviour is abjured? A change in mindset will not come by enacting a law alone. Unless that law is enforced and visible action can be seen against those breaking the law, we will continue to see incidents like these occurring again and again. Our society is already in the grips of too much violence. At least spare our children.