But several teachers interviewed by Perspective still maintain that the most effective tool is physical punishment. They argue that most students avoid trouble because they are afraid of being spanked. The 1972 rule forbids caning to be carried out arbitrarily. Before being imposed, students will be asked if they have committed the wrongdoing. If the answer is yes, they will be allowed to choose between being caned or having their parents informed of their bad behaviour.
Most students tend to go for the former alternative.
According to a source from a well-known school in Bangkok, students need to be disciplined so that when they leave school they will become good citizens and know how to respect law and order. The spare the rod and spoil the child, approach may be seen by some western liberals as a symbol of authoritarianism or dictatorship imposed on students. But the rod is merely a tool to maintain rules and deter aggressive behaviour, he said. Wallop Piyamanotham, an executive of Srinakarinwirot University's Prasarnmitr's counselling centre, claims that there his proof of negative consequences of not inflicting corporal punishment. Over 30 years ago, the United States banned caning in school after parents brought assault charges against teachers.