Without it, he said, some students would never learn to behave properly. Some administrators yesterday expressed the same opinion, saying corporal punishment remains necessary. Jian Thongnui, chief of Sarapad Chang Phra Nakorm College's administrative division, said his 20 years of experience had taught him that physical punishment helped control unruly students. As a teacher, I've never wanted to punish my students, but they can cause problems to the school and society if I cannot control them. A teacher at Bodindecha 2 School, who asked not to be named, said some students would refuse to follow the rules without the threat of corporal punishment.
Light punishment is no good for some children.
Some illnesses can be cured by medication, but some others require operations. Thong Juapetch, a teacher at Triam Udom Nomklao School, said the new regulation could backfire because some students would misbehave in the hope of being suspended so they wouldn't have to attend school. Somsak said the decision to ban corporal punishment was made based on research conducted by academics and psychologists. However, he said he would repeal the ban if those opposed to it present enough reasonable arguments in favour of doing so. Nevertheless, he said teachers should realize that the rod does not create good people.