In some schools, perhaps many schools, that is true. But it doesn’t have to be – that’s my point.
My own school here in Australia has developed detailed procedures over the years to ensure children are protected from unfair punishment. No, they’re not the same as the procedures used in criminal justice and I don’t believe they should be. But they are very robust as they do work.
If you believe there is a problem in a school with corporal punishment being used unfairly, then that needs to be addressed. But it can be addressed without abolition in many cases. If you can’t do it any other way – then, yes, I’d support abolition in that school. But I’d prefer to support solutions that undress the unfairness, rather than focus on the punishment. Because in an unfair school, all abolishing corporal punishment will do is ensure children are still being punished unfairly, just in a different way.