Evening Post, Wellington, 1 March 2002

Cannot stop caning by parents

The Ministry of Education is powerless to stop a Masterton private school from bringing parents into the school to cane and strap pupils. Homeleigh Christian School admitted last month it brought parents in to administer corporal punishment because it was illegal for teachers to do it. Ministry spokesman Jim Douglas said it wasn't illegal for parents to physically punish students even in school. Meanwhile, Silverstream Christian School, which wouldn't tell the Education Review Office whether it used corporal punishment, will be investigated in the same way as any school that didn't comply with ERO requirements, said Mr Douglas.