Which brings us to what sanctions. Well, here you may be surprised. I believe it is possible to run an educational system without corporal punishment. The cane or whatever, is only one tool in the disciplinary toolkit, and if we take the view we do not for good moral or philosophical reasons, ( and you may have formed this opinion) feel comfortable with this option then by all means bin it….but do recognize two points…..
Firstly all punishments are meant to be unpleasant.
Corporal punishment may be physically ‘cruel’ ( though if properly applied to a very limited extent) but detention, lines and essays are intended to inflict mental suffering. Yes you may call it boredom, embarrassment, frustration, whatever, but it is indeed to unpleasant. Not a minute of sharp acute pain, nothing so intense….but a long drawn-out process of mental attrition.
