ANGUILLA: public schools
- Road Primary School, South Hill
No nonsense at this establishment -- it gives a list of offences "which will result in lashes corporal punishment" given by the Principal (pictured). Students failing to attend detention assignment, too, "will receive lashes".
AUSTRALIA: private schools
- Bundaberg Christian College, Queensland [PDF]
This school covers the whole age range from infants to year 12. Corporal punishment, used when other methods have failed, is by paddle OR cane, which is a rather unusual mixture of US and UK traditions. (How is it decided which to use? Is one regarded as more serious than the other? We are not told.) Offending students are disciplined by the Principal, with a witness, in private, although "the fact that they have been so dealt with will not necessarily be secret". CP is awarded for "serious verbal or physical abuse, theft or misbehaviour".
See also this March 2009 news item, which reports that the school used its paddle 10 times in 2008.
- Caloundra Christian College, Queensland
"When necessary standards will be enforced through a variety of means, including detention and corporal correction".
See also this March 2009 news item.
- Chinchilla Christian School, Queensland [PDF]
At this small primary school, "corporal correction" (no details given) may be used in cases of misconduct.
-
Craigmore Christian School, near Adelaide, South Australia [DOC]
This is the enrolment application which parents must sign, approving "corporal discipline" if deemed necessary. See also this report by Flinders University quoting the principal as saying that "many students are thankful and satisfied after being administered with corporal punishment". It is administered for swearing, fighting, dishonesty, etc., by a staff member of the same sex as the student, and takes the form of "a small, white wooden paddle to smack the student once or twice on the bottom".
- Mackay Christian College, Queensland [PDF]
This large all-through (P-12) school uses corporal correction "rarely" but particularly for younger children. The enrolment form [PDF] requires parents to sign that they accept the use of CP.
- These Australian private schools are also known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Frank Dando Sports Academy, Ashwood, Victoria -- see this March 2005 news item
BAHAMAS, THE
- These Bahamas schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Grand Bahama Academy -- see this March 2007 news item
Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic School -- see this March 2007 news item
St Paul's College, Freeport -- see this March 2007 news item
L.W. Young Junior High School -- see this June 2008 news item
BARBADOS
- Student Code of Discipline [PDF]
Document produced in 2004 by the Ministry of Education for all schools. It quotes Education Regulation 18(j), which "makes provision for principals to administer corporal punishment when necessary". The document lays down three levels of offences from level 1 (tardiness, disrespect, horseplay, littering, dress code) to level 3 (assault, vandalism, forgery, arson). Corporal punishment is one of the disciplinary options at all three levels.
- These Barbados schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Alexandra School, St Peter -- see this July 2008 news item
Garrison Secondary School -- see this July 2008 news item
St Lucy Secondary School -- see this July 2008 news item
St Michael School -- see this July 2008 news item
BERMUDA: private schools
-
Warwick Academy [PDF]
This school, "well known for its high level of discipline", has its secondary (year 7-11) handbook on line. It notes that "Students may be strapped for failure to adhere to the school's Rules of Conduct at the discretion of the Headmaster", giving no further details. In an earlier version, archived here, it was stated that CP was given for "fighting, smoking or speaking obscenities, or other serious misdemeanours" and must be administered by the Headmaster or Deputy in his office. Parents were to be informed. A male may not administer CP to a female.
BERMUDA: public schools
-
Berkeley Institute (Alternative link)
At this senior secondary school, caning is said to be "rarely used", but the principal reserves the right to administer it for "extreme discipline offences".
BOTSWANA
- The Learning Centre School, Gaborone [PDF] (Alternative link)
Here is the form which parents must sign upon admission of their child to the secondary level at this private school. It includes agreement to the "corporal punishment procedure of TLCS, as detailed in the handbook". The handbook itself doesn't seem to be on line.
- These Botswana schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Masunga Senior Secondary School -- see this May 2004 news item
GHANA
- Preset Pacesetters Institute, Madina, Greater Accra
At this mixed-sex private secondary school, caning is listed is a consequence for several offences including cheating, writing on walls, and making a noise. In most cases it is combined with some other punishment, e.g. for "refusal to do or complete teacher's punishment", the penalty is "Caning in the Headmaster's office plus doing the given punishment". For "banging of chairs/tables in the classroom", it is "scrubbing the toilet for one week plus caning".
- These Ghanaian schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Faith Montessori School, Accra -- see this Nov 2007 news item
Mpraeso Secondary School -- see this Feb 2006 news item
Prempeh College, Kumasi -- see these external links
Sunyani Secondary School, Brong Ahafo -- see this July 2005 news item
GUYANA: public schools
- For the official CP regulations for all schools, see this April 2004 news item.
JAMAICA
- These Jamaican schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Charlie Smith High School, St Andrew -- see this March 2006 news item
Kingston College -- see this October 2005 news item
KENYA
Testimony School, Eldoret
Not a handbook, but a blog by one of the leaders of this Christian school. He says the cane is still in place in the Headmaster's office. "It is not used very frequently, but it is known to be there, on hand, when needed. It assists in keeping discipline even when it is at rest."
MALAYSIA
Note: "SMK" means a state secondary school.
- Ma'ahad SAS, Jengka, Pahang
At this Islamic school hostel, penalties include 3 strokes of the cane ("Rotan tidak melebihi 3 kali") for serious offences ("Kesalahan Berat"), 2 strokes for middling offences, and one stroke for minor offences.
- Methodist Boys' Secondary School, Kuala Lumpur [PDF]
Students who smoke here receive 10 demerit points and are also caned one, two or three strokes on a rising scale each time the offence is repeated. The penalty for chewing gum is a 10-ringgit fine plus caning. Corporal punishment may also be imposed for theft, gambling, assault, weapons, fighting, bullying, truancy, vandalism, disrespect, cheating, and obscenity, and for being late three times.
- Mara Junior Science College, Melaka
Corporal punishment here is applied with a cane, in private, for male students only, either to the palm or to the clothed buttocks. Minor offences attract one stroke, more serious offences two strokes. It is to be administered by the Principal or a teacher authorised by the Principal, and must be entered in a special record book.
- Sri Kuala Lumpur (Primary & Secondary) School
This private school reserves the right to take whatever disciplinary action it deems appropriate, which may include caning (no details given). The school's FAQs page adds that discipline is "very strong" and clarifies that corporal punishment is for boys only and is used with parental consent.
- SMK Agama Sibu, Sibu, Sarawak
Here, students caught smoking ("rokok") are caned. The first offence brings one stroke, the second two strokes, and the third three strokes ("Kali Pertama (1 Rotan), Kali Kedua (2 Rotan), Kali Ketiga (3 Rotan)"). On the fourth time, the student is suspended. This, the page adds, is in accordance with a government circular.
- SMK Sungai Tapang, Kuching, Sarawak [DOC]
Caning ("hukuman rotan") is listed here as a possible consequence for no less than 37 different offences, from smoking to truancy.
- Yu Hua Secondary School, Kajang, Selangor
This page states (in Malay) that a student clocking up 10 penalty points will, if male, receive one stroke of the cane, followed by another stroke at 20 penalty points. For comparison, the consequence of accumulating 50 points is expulsion.
- These Malaysian schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Royal Military College, Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur -- see this external link
St John's Institution, Kuala Lumpur -- see these external links
St Thomas Secondary School, Kuching, Sarawak -- see this February 2004 news item
SK Dato Abdul Hamid Satu, Pasir Mas, Kelantan -- see this February 2005 news item
SMK Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur -- see this May 2005 news item
SMK Jabi, Alor Star, Kedah -- see this May 2004 news item
SMK Kepala Batas, Alor Star, Kedah -- see this January 2005 news item
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
- Eucon International School, Saipan
At this Christian K-12 school, "corporal punishment (spanking) will be administered when deemed necessary". There is a demerit system: one demerit for homework not done, five demerits for insolence or dress code violations, and so on. "Upon receiving twenty demerits, the student is required to report to the administrator's office for a spanking". A note is sent to the parent, who must either sign a form approving the spanking, or come to the school and administer it him- or herself. Until one of these two things happens, the student is not allowed back into the school.
If the student reappears with the signed form, "a reasonable number of firm strokes will be administered with a simple flat paddle" by a staff member of the same sex as the student. The paddling must be witnessed and recorded. The student will not be physically restrained; if he refuses to submit, the parent is asked to come to the office to either administer the spanking or remove the student from the school.
At the same campus is also Eucon International College, a degree-level institution run by the same people. This handbook contains some of the same information about corporal punishment as the K-12 school book, from which large chunks of text have clearly been hastily copied and pasted. Presumably this is an error, since a college for adults wouldn't paddle its students ... would it?
ST LUCIA
- These St Lucia schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
RC Boys School, Castries -- see this Sep 2009 news item
SINGAPORE
- Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School [PDF]
Caning (for boys), combined with detention, is a penalty here for first-time offenders in category 1 (truancy, vandalism, theft, gangsterism, gambling), and for recalcitrant offenders in category 2 (chewing gum, incorrect attire, unpunctuality, disruptive behaviour), but not category 3 (lesser offences). The equivalent for girls is extended detention.
- Admiralty Secondary School
Here there is a long list of serious offences, from skipping lessons to smoking to bringing dishonour to the school or the nation. "Any student found guilty of committing any of the above", within or outside school, "may be sent for Corrective Behaviour (CBO), caned, suspended, reported to the police or expelled".
- Anderson Secondary School
"Major offences", of which there is a long list, "are punishable by caning (for boys) and detention class (for girls)".
- Ang Mo Kio Primary School
Caning is one of the actions that may be taken against students who infringe the rules here.
- Ang Mo Kio Secondary School
For all major offences, such as smoking or fighting, boys are caned in class. If it happens a second time, the caning takes place in front of the whole school. Girls get detention instead (for 3 or 5 days, respectively). The offender will also receive counselling. The school's decision on punishments is final. For lesser offences there is a merit/demerit points system. All students start off with 75 merit points. If your points fall to 55, and you are a boy, you get the cane in front of your class.
- Anglican High School
This school has a demerit points system. Caning is administered when five or more demerit points have been accumulated. "For the very serious offences, parents will be informed immediately unless there is corporal punishment involved where parents/guardians will be subsequently informed of the action."
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) [DOC]
This all-boys secondary school, whose main front page is here, is part of the same "family" as ACSI (see next item) but unlike its sister school it is within the state sector. The document linked above is a list of crimes and punishments. Caning is listed as a possibility for all except the most trivial category of offences.
See also the Attendance Tracking System for the Attendance of Scouts. This warns Scouts (one of the school's co-curricular activity options) that if they more than once fail to submit a medical certificate for any missed activity they will "be liable for ... severe punishment ... such as caning etc.".
See also this May 2009 news item.
- Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) [PDF]
This highly academic, award-winning, private Methodist boys' secondary school doesn't currently put its mainstream disciplinary details on its website, although its principal is on record as saying that "we have corporal punishment for some serious offences" and that if parents do not approve of this, "then they should not have put their child in this school" -- see this July 2001 news item.
The document linked above is much more specialised, aimed at the parents of prospective students (including girls in this hitherto all-male institution), for a new special stream to take the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in years 5 and 6. Year 5 in Singapore is normally the year in which a student turns 17, though in some circumstances the age could be higher. This is equivalent to "A" levels, and all these students are, in British terms, sixth-formers.
Go to pages 46 to 48 for the "academic honesty policy" concerning cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabricating data, and the like, on the part of these 16-to-18-year-olds. At page 49 the penalties for contravening this policy are listed, including, in very serious cases or when other disciplinary means have been exhausted, "caning (only for male students)". This "will be conducted in the principal's office, classroom or during school assembly". Furthermore, "all students who have been caned will be required to attend counselling sessions arranged by the school."
I suspect the reason the school is emphasising the point is that this briefing document is for parents of potential new students coming into ACSI at the year 5 level from outside, who, unlike the parents of existing ACSI students, might not be expected to be familiar with the school's strong CP tradition.
- Bedok Green Secondary School
Here, boys who commit serious offences "will be caned".
See also this Oct 2005 document [PDF] from Christ Methodist Church, which includes an article (pages 4 to 5) by Bedok Green's young Discipline Master, who reports that his job is "very draining and extremely tiring". His duties include "carrying out corporal punishment such as public caning". He rather gives the impression that all canings at this school are administered in public.
- Bedok Town Secondary School (Alternative link)
Here there is a detailed list of offences and consequences. Failure to attend detention class brings one stroke of the cane plus two more days' detention class. One stroke, plus 3 demerit points, is also the penalty for such things as leaving school without permission; for bullying and smoking, it is one stroke plus 5 demerit points, with two strokes and another five points for each repeat offence. Most serious of all are assault, gangsterism, weapons and theft, for which the penalty is two strokes on the first offence plus 8 demerit points.
In addition, a separate demerit points system page (Alternative link) reveals that accumulations of demerit points themselves result in canings in addition to the canings for the original offences. Thus, on reaching 30 demerit points, the student receives one additional stroke of the cane. At 50 points he gets two strokes, and the parent must come to the school. So, if a student commits a two-stroke offence which also takes him over the 50-point level, he presumably gets four strokes all at once on that occasion. Curiously there is no mention of what happens to misbehaving girls, even though this is a mixed school.
- Bedok View Secondary School [PDF]
Smoking, defiance, theft, forgery, bullying, substance abuse and abuse of technology are among the offences for which boys may be caned here.
- Bishan Park Secondary School
"Suspension and/or caning" is the penalty here for persistent serious misbehaviour.
See also this Oct 2002 news item and this June 2003 follow-up about the public caning of a 17-year-old student at this school.
- Cambridge Institute
This is not an ordinary school but a huge private language/vocational school and crammer for foreign students aged 16-25. Caning is administered for truancy and skipping classes -- presumably not in the case of students over 21, but that is not spelled out.
- Chai Chee Secondary School [DOC]
This is the undertaking that parents and students must sign, presumably on first entry to the school. The parents must confirm that they "will accept any disciplinary action meted out". That this might include caning is shown in this second document [DOC], the blank "discipline statement" form on which school staff record a pupil's offences and which the parent must countersign.
- Chong Boon Secondary School
Corporal punishment is one of the penalties here for serious offences. A minor offence repeated three times is also deemed a serious offence.
- Chong Fu Primary School [PDF]
"The Principal has the authority to administer corporal punishment". This power may be delegated to a senior colleague.
- Chua Chu Kang Primary School
This merely states that "pupils may be caned or expelled" if they commit a serious offence.
- Chung Cheng High School (Main)
In addition to the usual list of things like smoking, fighting, cheating and vandalism, offences which may warrant caning here include "displaying a complete disregard for authority" and "any offence detrimental to the good name and image of the school".
- Clementi Woods Secondary School
At this new school, caning is one of the disciplinary actions taken for "serious offences" such as smoking, vandalism, fighting and bullying.
- Commonwealth Secondary School [PDF]
The rules here are quite detailed. For the usual list of serious offences (smoking, vandalism and so on), boys get one stroke of the cane in the office on the first time, two strokes in front of their class the second time, and two strokes in public, or expulsion, on the third occasion. Girls in a like position are (1) suspended from class for three days, (2) suspended from school for three days, and (3) made to read out a public apology, or expelled, respectively. This gives the impression that there are no circumstances in which a boy would ever get more than two strokes at a time, which would make this school fairly unusual.
- Compassvale Secondary School [DOC]
Boys caught smoking receive "two strokes of public caning". Girls serve a two-week community duty in lieu of caning. Pupils are also "liable to be caned" for defiance, fighting, bullying, cheating, drug abuse, forgery, gambling, vandalism and truancy. In all such cases the student also receives counselling and may have to make a public apology.
- Damai Secondary School
This school has a points system: 10 demerits brings two hours' detention, and 20 brings three hours' detention. Once a boy accumulates 30 demerits he is caned, while girls are suspended. An example of the "tariff" is that you get 5 demerits for not tucking your shirt in. Caning is also the punishment for skipping detention, for a third offence of failing an "attire/hair check", and for a fifth tardy in a term. Two or more canings in a term means your conduct report is marked "poor". For smoking in school uniform, the penalty is two strokes of the cane; for vandalism, fighting or bullying, it is a minimum of two strokes, to be administered in front of the class or the school.
- Dunman Secondary School
(Not to be confused with Dunman High School -- see following item.) Not a handbook, but an interview with the school's Discipline Master, who says past students come back and thank him for caning them. Asked how many pupils he has caned in his six years in the job, he says he hopes it would not be more than a hundred.
- Dunman High School [PDF]
(Not to be confused with Dunman Secondary School -- see previous item.) Caning is administered to male students for serious breaches of the Code of Conduct. Only the Principal or staff authorised by the Principal may cane.
- East Spring Secondary School
Male students caught smoking, or possessing cigarettes, tobacco or lighters, "are liable to be caned in school". In an earlier version of the document, so were those merely found in the smokers' company, but the current rules state that such non-smoking students will be punished, not necessarily caned. Female smokers are suspended in lieu of caning.
- East View Secondary School
This is a list of examples of "criminal acts" and "serious misconduct". For boys, "caning, counseling and parents to be notified" is the punishment for a first and second offence. On the third offence, the offender may be suspended. The equivalent penalties for girls are 5 days' detention (first offence) and 2 days' in-school suspension (second offence). For lesser offences there is a system of demerit points. Uniform and hairstyle offences (Alternative link)
are not normally caneable here, unless they escalate beyond a third offence, in which case they are deemed to constitute "defiance", which counts as "serious misconduct" and thus attracts a caning. However, upper secondary boys (aged 14 to 17), who at this school graduate to long trousers at the beginning of the year in which they turn 15, are made to suffer the embarrassment of spending a full week at school wearing lower secondary (short pants) uniform if they commit a third "attire offence".
- Fairfield Methodist Secondary School [PDF]
Boys who commit a fourth minor offence in a row receive 3 demerit points and one stroke of the cane; girls get five days of "isolation after school" instead of the caning. Further demerit points accumulate for further offences, with another caning (two strokes this time), or ten days of isolation for girls, at the 8th offence. At the 9th offence, both sexes get one week's ISS and the pupil must sign a behaviour contract. A caning is also automatic whenever a boy reaches 10 demerit points.
As at several other Singapore schools, a student's first caning (per term, presumably) takes place in the office, his second in front of his class, and his third in front of the school at morning assembly. So much for the accumulation of minor offences. For more serious offences there is a detailed list of consequences. Thus, a boy will receive 5 demerit points plus one stroke of the cane for cheating in tests or truancy. For vandalism, bullying, gambling or smoking, the penalty is 10 demerit points plus three strokes of the cane.
- Fengshan Primary School
This school has a table of list of offences and consequences that doesn't mention caning. However, underneath the table we read: "NB. Depending on the severity of the offence, the Discipline Committee can decide to cane the pupil."
- Fuchun Primary School
"Depending on the severity of the offence, caning will be carried out by the Principal or Vice-Principal, in the office, classroom or during the assembly in the hall".
- Fuchun Secondary School
Caning here is a consequence for smoking, violence, bullying, defiance and disrespect, vandalism, persistent latecoming, truancy, theft, and outrage of modesty. For cheating and repeated serious offences, there is public caning.
See also the April 2007 issue of School-Home Link [PDF], the school's newsletter for parents, which warns that students making irresponsible use of mobile phones -- such as taking pictures or videos with them on school premises -- will be caned (boys) or given a corrective work order (girls) and suspended.
- Geylang Methodist Secondary School
There is a three-stage disciplinary process here, and caning is one of the outcomes at the third ("critical") stage.
- Greendale Secondary School
This school has a Disciplinary Committee, which may decide to order caning for serious offences.
- Greenridge Primary School [PDF]
Caning is one of the possible consequences for serious offences.
Greenridge Secondary School [PDF]
Here is a list of offences and punishments. For such offences as being late and deliberately avoiding being booked, leaving school without permission, truanting, missing detention, rudeness, serious disobedience, smoking, cheating and forgery, and for a second offence of skipping lessons, boys are caned and girls are given "long detention". For the most serious crimes, such as fighting, gangsterism, stealing and vandalism, the caning may be delivered in public.
See also this May 2004 news item.
- Guangyang Secondary School
This school merely mentions that caning is a possible consequence of serious offences.
- Henry Park Primary School
"Caning will be administered if necessary to recalcitrant cases by the Principal."
- Hong Kah Secondary School
Here, the punishment for being late 10 times is one stroke of the cane (boys) and one day's suspension (girls). For failing to submit assignments, it is one stroke of the cane (boys) and two days' community service (girls). Boys receive two strokes for smoking, in or out of school (girls: 3 days' suspension). "The school will administer caning (for all serious and repeated offences) on the day the offence was committed, with or without parents' consent. Counselling will be provided after the caning is carried out."
- Loyang Primary School [PDF]
Possible actions taken in response to school offences include "caning following existing MOE guidelines".
- Loyang Secondary School
Pupils may be caned for serious offences, of which there is a long list.
- Montfort Junior School [PPT]
See slide 22 of this Powerpoint presentation, which says that caning is one of the consequences for bullying, though apparently not for other serious offences.
- Montfort Secondary School
This Roman Catholic boys' school states that caning, as decided by the Discipline Committee, is one of the possible consequences for a long list of offences.
See also this July 2002 news item about an occasion on which three senior students were caned in front of the whole school.
See also the school's blogfor "Puff the Magic Dragon", which the evidently highly eccentric but much-loved principal sang as he caned two boys in front of the school for smoking.
- Muhammadiyah Welfare Home
Not an ordinary school, but a home for Muslim juvenile offenders aged under 16 at the time of admission. Technically it is an "approved school" (some Singapore legislation still uses the old British terminology). For minor infringements there is a demerit points system leading to extra daily chores; then forfeiture of weekend leave. After that comes caning, presumably for boys only, although that is not spelled out.
- Nan Chiau High School
Caning (no details provided) is available at this school for Level 2 offences (including being more than 10 minutes late, defiance, disruptive behaviour) and Level 3 offences (truancy, forgery, vandalism, smoking) but not for Level 1 (consumption of food outside canteen, improper attire). Pupils may also be caned for accumulating 21 demerit points.
- Naval Base Secondary School
On the sixth tardy per semester, boys are caned while girls get in-house suspension.
- Ngee Ann Secondary School
A long list of detailed rules here, and clearly a strict regime ("I must not put on fanciful spectacle frames .... I must tuck in my T-shirt neatly ..."). On page 4, under "Offences and Consequences", we read: "I may be caned for my offence (Boys only)".
- Northbrooks Secondary School [DOC]
This school lists littering, bad manners, dishonesty, bullying, eating in class, use of electronic devices, gambling, stealing, fighting, smoking, vandalism and substance abuse among the offences for which caning is a possible consequence.
- Outram Secondary School
After setting out the usual long list of possible offences, this document simply states that "corporal punishment (for boys)" is one of the disciplinary actions that may be decided upon by the Disciplinary Committee.
- Peicai Secondary School
More details here now than previously: male students "will face corporal punishment" if they defy teachers, steal, fight, smoke or bully, or have tattoos, among other things.
- Peirce Secondary School
At this school, caning (no details supplied) is a punishment for a wide range of offences, usually in addition to detention and "home involvement". These extracts were archived (2002) from the school's previous website; its current discipline page doesn't list specific consequences.
- Ping Yi Secondary School
These rules state that one of the possible consequences for violations of the code of conduct is "Corporal punishment (for boys only)".
See also this Sep 2006 news item, which states that Ping Yi will continue to use the cane even though it has adopted a "restorative practices" scheme for certain wrongdoings.
- Pioneer Secondary School
Boys are caned here for defiance and rudeness, cheating, forgery, theft, vandalism, assault, fighting, smoking, gambling, drugs, and a fourth offence of truancy, among other things. First offenders receive one stroke, but "two or more" strokes are imposed for subsequent offences. For serious offences, such as bullying, gambling or pornography, the punishment is delivered "in public". Other canings are "generally conducted in the office or classroom", but the fact of their taking place is announced to all students "to advise the school population on [sic] the offence committed".
See also this June 1999 news item about a 16-year-old who, with five other boys, was publicly caned in assembly. They received two strokes each on the buttocks with "a thick and long cane".
- Punggol Secondary School
Here, offences such as theft, vandalism, gangsterism and truancy "carry mandatory caning during the school assembly". These are referred to as "serious offences specified by the Ministry of Education", which together with the word "mandatory" slightly gives the impression that the government actually requires these offences to be punished with public caning, but that can't be so, because not all Singapore schools cane in public, and there are a few that don't cane at all. Anyway, once caned, a boy who commits further serious offences may be suspended or expelled.
See also Referral procedures for major offences, where we learn that the parents of the offending student must come with their son to a meeting with the Discipline Master, at which they will be informed that he must make a public apology and will be publicly caned.
- Queensway Secondary School
At this school, "depending on the gravity of the offence, the Principal may decide to cane the errant student in class or in the hall".
- Riverside Secondary School
Here, boys may be caned for any of the traditional serious offences from the first time onwards. For truancy and skipping lessons, the cane comes out at the third offence, and for latecoming on the sixth occasion (per term, presumably). Girls get "two days of corrective work order" in lieu of caning, which actually sounds at least as bad, and certainly a great deal more time-consuming.
- Rosyth Primary School [PDF]
Slide 30 of this presentation for the parents of new students tells us that caning is used for "recalcitrant" discipline cases, but only in the upper school.
- St Andrews Junior School [PPT]
A Powerpoint slide presentation on Pupil Management from this boys-only primary school, mentioning (see slide 8) that caning is one of the consequences for misbehaviour, but giving no details.
See also Letter to Parents, August 2008 [PDF] (scroll down to "Discipline Issues") in which the Principal notes that the school is very reluctant to publicly cane boys from the lower primary level.
- St Andrews Secondary School [PDF]
This 150-year-old Anglican all-boys establishment is highly regarded for its sporting trophies as well as its academic results. With its passion for rugby and cricket, and more than a hint of what used to be called "muscular Christianity", it probably comes as close as any to the authentic ethos of a traditional British boys' school, encapsulated in its splendid School Song:
[...] Foes in plenty we shall meet,
Hearts courageous scorn defeat;
So we press with eager feet,
Up and On!
Ever onward to the fight,
Ever upward to the Light,
Ever true to GOD and RIGHT,
Up and On!
Up Boys! truest fame
Lies in high endeavour;
Play the game! keep the flame
Burning brightly ever! Caning (details not provided) is specified for a first or subsequent offence of unauthorised audio/video recording, unruly behaviour at functions or events, improper attire in the swimming pool, failure to observe traffic rules outside the school, pornography, rudeness or disrespect, smoking ("Students who fail the smokerlyser test will be subjected to caning"), truancy or absenteeism, and vandalism.
Upon a second or subsequent offence, pupils are also caned for wearing ear studs and tattoos, talking in the library, and dishonest behaviour in an exam.
For a first offence of bullying /gangsterism /fighting or outrage of modesty, or a repeat offence of gambling, the offender "will be caned in class". Any subsequent offence of bullying etc., and also drug or inhalant abuse, brings "public caning accompanied by suspension and/or expulsion", as too does any case involving the police, even when the offence is committed outside the school. More generally, "major and severe cases are subjected to caning at the school's discretion".
Caning (one stroke) on the hand -- unusual at secondary level in Singapore -- is the specific and automatic consequence for a first or subsequent offence of unpunctuality to class. This is evidently regarded as a minor punishment, presumably applied on the spot, and I think we can probably infer that all the other canings mentioned, clearly more serious, are delivered to the offender's seat in the traditional manner.
Also, if students are late to school four or more times in a term, "caning will be administered".
See also news items from Oct 2003 and June 2009 about canings for bullying at the school, and this Jan 2008 news item about two St Andrews 14-year-olds publicly caned for trying to take a photograph up their lady teacher's skirt.
- St Gabriels Primary School for Boys (Alternative link)
A very specific list of offences and their punishments. Caning is apparently the only available punishment for quite a number of serious offences, with the number of strokes specified in each case, either one (e.g. extortion) or two (e.g. substance abuse). An earlier document, now apparently gone, stated that for repeat offenders, a maximum of 3 strokes is given either in the classroom or on the stage, presumably in front of the whole school. All canings are followed by counselling.
- St Gabriels Secondary School
Slideshow of orientation for new students at this Roman Catholic boys' school. Caning comes into play in the case of "serious disciplinary cases" (see slide 5). Slide 6 tells us that boys who arrive late 10 times get one stroke of the cane. See also this entry in the diary site of one of its co-curricular activities, the police cadet corps, which mentions that students who absent themselves from training will be caned.
- St Joseph's Institution - Junior - P1-P2
St Joseph's Institution - Junior - P3-P4
St Joseph's Institution - Junior - P5-P6
Unusually, this boys' primary school has different sets of punishments for three different age levels. It is quite surprising to see that caning is specifically mentioned for P1 (pupils aged only about 6). At that age, "caning" must surely imply something different from what the word means at secondary level in Singapore. In the case of level P1-P2, CP is available for a second or subsequent offence of things like bullying, truancy and assault. Boys in P3-P4 also get the cane for being abusive to staff - the punishment being inflicted in front of the class for a second offence, and in front of the level (cohort) for a third one. Caning in the office is for a second offence of forgery. Caning (location unspecified) is for several other offences such as truancy and bullying. A third offence of theft, extortion or assault attracts public caning, which presumably means in front of the whole school. At the top level (age 11 and 12), CP comes into play at the first offence for the most serious sins.
- Sembawang Primary School
There is a list of offences which are "considered serious enough to merit corporal punishment" (smoking, bullying, cheating, theft, etc.).
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Seng Kang Secondary School (highlight the whole page to read text) (Alternative link)
"Rules and consequences" sets out very specific penalties for particular offences: caning is used for smoking, drugs or alcohol, and "serious offences" (fighting, gangsterism, vandalism, dishonesty, etc.) For repeated offences, not only does the number of strokes rise but the punishment becomes progressively less private. Thus, a first offence of smoking brings one stroke in the principal's office; a second offence, two strokes in class; and a third offence, three strokes in front of the whole school. Offending girls, who legally may not be caned, must instead wear a "red vest" for a given number of days.
- Shuqun Secondary School
Caning is one of the penalties for all 16 serious offences listed, except truancy. It may also be meted out for the following "appearance" offences if repeated: hair coloured or too long, wearing shorts or pants that are too large, wearing coloured contact lenses.
- Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Here, serious offences such as visiting cyber cafes, intimacy, smoking and truancy "may lead to a student being severely punished", which "could be in the form of caning, suspension and even expulsion from the school".
- Teck Ghee Primary School
"Caning (as deemed appropriately by the Disciplinary committee and the Principal)" is a possible consequence of school offences here.
- Teck Whye Secondary School
This new document entitled "System of Handing Disciplinary Cases" goes into more detail than the brief page provided previously. The school "reserves the right to mete out corporal punishment for serious offences before informing parents".
Click on "Next" at the bottom of each sub-page and see particularly page 9 onwards. Caning (amount not specified) is a possible punishment here for a third offence of truancy or not doing assignments, and for a repeat offence of using vulgar language. For defiance, forgery or bullying, the response is more definite: "Student will be punished (caning)".
The most serious misbehaviours automatically attract specific quantities of punishment. For theft, pornography and vandalism, "student will be punished with 1-3 strokes of public caning". For assault/fighting, gambling, gangsterism, weapons, smoking and arson, the fixed penalty is three strokes of public caning.
- Unity Secondary School: Major offences
- Unity Secondary School: Some important procedures
"Major offences" lists the crimes for which "severe punishments including caning" will be meted out. Under "some important procedures" we see that caning is generally brought into play for a third or subsequent major offence.
- Victoria School
At this prestigious boys' secondary school, canings are meted out for a first instance of playing truant, smoking, theft, shoplifting, and other serious offences, and for a repeat instance of some less serious ones, such as "inappropriate hairstyle" and "sneaking into school after morning assembly".
- West Grove Primary School
Pupils who commit serious offences here will be referred to the Principal and may be caned.
- Westwood Secondary School
Caning (no details given) is one of the punishments for serious offences.
- Xinmin Secondary School
Caning is one of the consequences for Category C (the most serious) offences, such as smoking, truancy, vandalism and getting tattoos. In addition, there is now a demerit points system, and "Boys who accumulate 20 or more demerit points will be caned".
- Yishun Secondary School [DOC]
For truancy, not doing assignments, loitering around the school without a pass, defiance or rudeness, cheating, lying, forgery, vulgar or abusive language or gestures, smoking, and bullying, "boys will be caned", while girls have to serve four days' detention. For the most serious offences, such as stealing, vandalism, fighting, weapons, and gambling, the caning is delivered in public; girls get "public shaming" plus detention.
This school also has a particularly detailed policy on lateness. Students who arrive after 7.25 but before 7.50 must run five times round the school field. If they arrive after 7.50 and inform the general office, they must "report to have an agreed strategy for not coming late", run five times round the school field, and serve four days' detention. For pupils arriving after 7.50 who do not inform the office, "boys will be caned one stroke for dishonesty" in addition to all of the above (girls have to do community work for this offence).
- Yishun Town Secondary School
This is an entirely different establishment from Yishun Secondary (see previous item). Here, boys receive caning for gambling, smoking, fighting, bullying, vandalism, theft, pornography, abusive language or gestures, defiance and rudeness, and infringement of internet rules and etiquette.
- Yuying Secondary School
Caning here is for "repeated misbehaviours" in the fields of attendance and misconduct, and also for theft, damage to property and other serious offences.
- Zhonghua Secondary School
Caning (for boys) is administered at this school for repeatedly lying to teacher, repeatedly cheating, and stealing or gambling; and, according to this further page, for defiance, smoking, pornography, fighting, hooliganism and vandalism. Girls get community work order instead of the cane.
- These Singapore schools are also known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line:
- Bowen Secondary School -- see this Oct 2004 news item about the public caning of three boys
- Bukit Batok Secondary School -- see this Aug 2002 news item about a new principal who turned the school round by enforcing caning more vigorously: "If you fight in school, you are caned by me"
- Canberra Secondary School -- see this July 2001 news item about the Discipline Master, including a statement by a boy that the DM's canings really hurt
- Fajar Secondary School -- see this Sep 2001 news item about the mass caning of 41 boys aged 16 and 17 for skipping class
- Ko Chuan Presbyterian Secondary School -- see this blog by a group of American visitors , which quotes the "extremely impressive" principal as saying that, when a student has been caned, every effort is made to ensure that he feels welcome again in the classroom since he has paid the price for his wrongdoing.
- Pasir Ris Secondary School -- see this Jan 2006 news item about a public caning at the school
- Serangoon Garden Secondary School ("pupils may be caned" -- school's discipline policy website in 2002, now disappeared)
- Siglap Secondary School -- see this April 2006 news item about a 17-year-old student given two strokes of the cane in front of the school
- Yio Chu Kang Secondary School (Straits Times, 27 Jan 2003, not on line)
- Yuan Ching Secondary School -- see this April 2007 news item reporting that the school administered 80 canings a year between 1999 and 2001 but has since got the number down to about 10 per year.
SOUTH AFRICA: private schools
- Bay Christian School, Port Elizabeth (Alternative link)
This is very odd. This school was not opened until 1999, by which time corporal punishment had already been outlawed in South Africa, for both public and private schools. Subsequent court cases have reaffirmed that Christian schools do not have any right to exemption from this rule, and yet here is one of them openly stating that "corporal correction is used in extreme cases as we believe it is a directive given by God".
- Strand Christian Academy, Western Cape [DOC]
For serious offences, including fighting, defiance and swearing, or upon receiving a fourth detention, the punishment here is "Biblical correction". Since CP is illegal at school, a Correction Report is sent home with the student, whose father must administer the spanking that same evening. The father must complete the rest of the form to certify that the punishment has been delivered, and return it to the school. If the parents dispute the need for a spanking, the student is suspended. After three "Biblical corrections", the parents must attend a meeting at the school. If behaviour does not improve, expulsion may follow.
SOUTH KOREA: private schools
- Centennial Christian School (Elementary), Seoul [PDF]
Corporal punishment (no details provided), with another staff member as witness, is a possible consequence for major offences at elementary level at this "American-style" international school. Parents are notified beforehand, and have the option to come to the school to administer it themselves, in which case "the administration will dictate the amount of discipline received". There is a separate handbook for the secondary level, which does not mention CP.
- Global Christian School, Seoul [PDF]
"Corporal correction" (no practical details supplied) is used at this K-12 school, but only after the parents have returned a form giving agreement on each separate occasion. So the offending student always has to wait until the following day for his or her spanking. The punishment is preceded and followed by prayer.
See also the School bus policy page, which mentions corporal punishment as a consequence for a third offence of misbehavior on the bus.
- Kunsan Christian International School
"When minor problems arise, the teacher will administer the necessary discipline. The student may be sent to principal, and a spanking may be used as discipline." Parents who are opposed to CP must "provide a satisfactory alternative".
SWAZILAND
- These Swaziland schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
St Francis High School, Mbabane -- see this Oct 2008 news item
Mhlatane High School, Piggs Peak -- see this October 2005 news item
Mhubhe High School, Manzini region ("Pupils weep for leaving teacher", Weekend Observer, Mbabane, 18 Feb 2006, not on line)
Velebantfu High School, New Haven -- see this Feb 2009 news item
TANZANIA
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Patandi Primary School
Information for temporary voluntary teachers. The headteacher is allowed to give four strokes of the cane for certain offences.
- These Tanzania schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Kahororo Secondary School, Kagera -- see this Sep 2004 news item
UGANDA
- These Uganda schools are known to use corporal punishment, but do not appear to say so on line, or are not on line at all:
Bethany High School, Naalya -- see this April 2005 news item
ZAMBIA: private schools
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Excellence Christian Academy, Kabwe
When corporal correction is warranted, a maximum of five firm strokes will be administered "using a simple, flat paddle for the girls and an appropriate rod for the boys".
ZIMBABWE: private schools
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Peterhouse Boys' School, Marondera
This is an Anglican boarding school in the English tradition. Corporal punishment is administered "only by the Rector, Senior Master and housemasters".
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St George's School, Harare (Alternative link)
At this Catholic (Jesuit) boys' school, corporal punishment is "not ruled out" but remains the prerogative of the headmaster.
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