In yet another gruesome incident, an 11-year-old student in Bangalore was thrashed by her teachers, resulting in grievous injuries to the girl. Her class teacher and other teachers beat her up for not doing her homework, tore her notebook and added to the indignities heaped on her, by even lifting her skirt before other students.

The State Women’s Commission has already taken up the issue and has suggested that the government cancel the licence of the school immediately. Some of the teachers have now been suspended and the commission has said that they should not be taken back.

This incident comes in the wake of another ghastly incident where a 19-year-old boy was beaten to death by his teacher in Udaipur earlier this month, for sitting with his legs splayed. His teacher has been arrested and charged for murder.

There is a Supreme Court ruling against corporal punishment in schools and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has written to all chief secretaries of states that even small acts like a slap, making a student kneel, or pinching could not be condoned, as these could lead to gross violations later on.

It has even included verbal abuse as humiliating to the students. However there is no law banning corporal punishment. The National Policy on Education only states that corporal punishment is not permissible. Some states have banned corporal punishment in schools, but other states must follow suit and ban it totally from their schools.

Corporal punishment is not only humiliating and traumatic, it can even be fatal. Parents should feel safe leaving their children behind in schools and not dread sending them to school.

Cruelty against students puts a question mark on the ability of a school teacher to discipline his or her students without resorting to extreme measures. It also affects the reputation of the school and takes away from the sense of security it offers to students.

Of course a teacher’s job is a thankless job, especially with low pay and low morale.  When they have to handle anywhere between 30 to 60 students in a class, its easy to snap. This is where it would help if schools had regular counselling sessions on anger management and handling personal frustrations, so that these are not taken out on the hapless students.

A teacher has to be a mentor, a friend, philosopher and guide and should not behave like a brute.