The law is the law

The Herald reports on Tyndale Park Christian School in Papatoetoe which for 15 years has refused to confirm or deny whether it still practises corporal punishment of students.

A leaked document suggests teachers do still strap pupils (and then pray for them!).

The law is the law. Regardless of one’s views, teachers lost this right 20 years ago. It is arguably legal for a school to have parents come in to apply corporal punishment, but it is clearly illegal for teachers to do so, even with permission.

The Ministry of Education should stop mucking around and enforce the law. I presume it can threaten deregistration if the school is unwilling to agree to operate under NZ law.