The online retailer's algorithm recommended the paddle, which was listed as an "Amazon's Choice," a label Amazon uses to describe products that best match a customer's search. Read more

Samoa banned the use of corporal punishment in 2013.

But a proposed amendment to the Education Bill 2009, section 23, would allow teachers in schools to use reasonable force to discipline children.

Ombudsman Maiava Iulai Toma, who heads Samoa's Human Rights Institution, says he doesn't understand the motivation for change.

Last week, in its capacity as the country's national human rights institution, his office made a submission to the Parliamentary Social Committee.

The submission proposed deferring a vote on the amendment until parliament and the government have had the opportunity to consider an inquiry report and its recommendations due for release this month.

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson says he's at a loss as to why the Ministry of Education is pushing the bill.

"Nobody seems to understand the reason behind the pursuit of this amendment to the Education Act," Nelson says.

"This law is a retrograde step. We're going backwards."

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has downplayed concerns that the use of "reasonable force" in schools is a step backwards for Samoa.

In July, during his weekly programme with the media, the Prime Minister said the amendment was in response to requests from the public.

"At times when fights break out between schools, the students don't even care about the presence of police officers at the scenes, they continue on fighting and they sometimes fight the officers.

"And after those fights I've had people visit me in my office, asking the Government to bring back corporal punishment to teach the students lessons - and this is love," he said.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• Image: ncpolicywatch.com

Last week, a middle school teacher was charged with assault over the beating of a student who was later hospitalised for his injuries.

The teacher also reportedly threatened to beat the 11-year-old's parents if they reported the incident.

Corporal punishment is prohibited in schools in article 40 of the Education (Schools and General Provisions) Regulations 2002.

But the crisis centre's team leader, Lesila Lokotui To'ia, said it was often used by both parents and teachers.

To'ia said it was not a positive form of discipline and the centre has been working to educate people.

"This is totally unacceptable, you know, and also the Crisis Centre's stand is that we have no, zero tolerance towards this and also any form of violence," she said.

The teacher was arrested after a call to a local radio station by the child's grandmother triggered an investigation.

Acting Chief Superintendent Tevita Vailea said teachers punishing students physically is clearly against the law.

He said the police were working with the Women and Children's Crisis Centre to eliminate the violence.

"To make sure that any victim of this kind of crime should have the courage to come forward and also in the long term, to create an environment in school that is more safe and more friendly and welcomes every member of society here," Vailea said.

Established in October 2009, the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) was pioneered by a group of women and some male advocate supporters.

The group was determined to develop an NGO that efficiently and professionally delivers quality support services to victims and survivors of violence against women and girls throughout Tonga.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• www.vsa.org.nz
• endcorporalpunishment.org
• Image: image.slidesharecdn.com

Accepting children into family life was a more inclusive process. Traditional Samoan values promoted the protection of children, not the infliction of suffering upon them.

He says when the missionaries arrived in Samoa from Europe, they didn't bring just the gospel.

They also brought their own culture, and biblical interpretations, with them.

The missionaires own world view flavoured the kind of Christainity they preached.

Nove said this discovery opened his eyes, and took him on a journey which challenged many of the old ways he had accepted to be true.

"We all contend with a kind of legacy that is left over from our parents, or from a previous generation," he said.

"My own parents had the best intentions when they smacked me: It was considered the proper way to discipline a child."

"When I entered into parenthood myself, I took that learning with me, and started smacking my own children. But then I learned that there are more and better ways of parenting."

Nove says becoming an adult is a process, rather than an automatic change of attitude.

"I started talking to my children more, and sharing my feelings with them."

"I discovered that parenting can be a classroom in itself.

If we are not prepared to learn from our children, then we are not prepared to give the best mentoring and teaching that we have to give them, ourselves."

Reverend Nove Vailaau is an ordained minister at the Congregation Christian Church in Samoa.

He carries out his ministry in Porirua East, New Zealand.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• Image:d20umr41za4hgv.cloudfront.net/

The South Canterbury man, whose name is suppressed, faces charges of assault with a weapon.

He says his hyperactive son needed the punishments. Continue reading

Ms McAleese's revelation that she did this came as Ireland's parliament last week removed the common law defence of "reasonable chastisement" of children.

In an interview, the former Irish president said she raised with the Pope "the Church's support for corporal punishment of children, which is set out in the catechism and which the [UN] Committee on the Rights of the Child regards as a violation of children's rights, under the Convention on the Rights of the Child to which the Holy See is a state party".

She said that Pope Francis has set up a working party on corporal punishment under the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

This working party is chaired by UK child abuse survivor Peter Saunders.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states parents must regard their children as children of God and must respect them as human persons (CCC #2222).

But it also cites the passage from Sirach 30-1-2: "He who loves his son will not spare the rod . . . He who disciplines his son will profit by him." (CCC #2223)

This is set alongside St Paul's saying in Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

In May, the Council of Europe released a statement condemning corporal punishment against children.

This was after Ireland was found to be in violation of a European charter which forbids the practice.

Ms McAleese said she has communicated with Pope Francis "occasionally".

Among the subjects she has raised are problem of youth suicide and self-harm, since the Church provides educational services to a majority of children in Ireland.

She also said she sees her Church as "a major conduit for homophobia which is toxic, a form of hatred that has nothing to do with Christ and is unchristian".

Sources

• Irish Times
• UN Tribune
• Irish Mirror
• Catechism of Catholic Church
• Image: 2GB

A legal opinion signed by Ms Chen for the lobby group Family First says case law since Section 59 of the Crimes Act was changed have confirmed that is now illegal for parents to use force against a child for the purpose of correction, even if the force is "reasonable".

"Therefore, in our opinion, statements made by politicians to the effect that the new Section 59 does not criminalise 'good parents' for lightly smacking their children are inconsistent with the legal effect of Section 59 and the application of that section in practice," the opinion says. Continue reading

And earlier in the year the Prime Minster of Samoa also threatened to reintroduce corporal punishment in response to school brawls at sporting events.

There is no evidence however that the abandonment of corporal punishment has made the situation significantly worse, or that its reintroduction would improve the situation.

Tongan Police think the level of school violence is coming down, with only 24 school children arrested and charged so far this year.

Tonga's assistant deputy Police Commissioner, Soakai Motu'apuaka, says they're trying an integrated approach to the problem involving the community, and it seems to be working.

And in Fiji the Ministry of Education has ruled out any possibility of reintroducing corporal punishment. Instead Education Ministry permanent secretary Dr Brij Lal has urged students involved to focus on their studies instead of retaliating.

"Let's come to some form of reconciliation, put aside all differences, forgive one another and treat each other as friends," he said .

Lal also urged teachers to impart virtues and values to students and teach them integrity, morality and responsibility.

Source

• Radio Australia International
• The Fiji Times
• Image:

In his written submissions to the Constitution Commission, Aisea Vunibaka, a retired revenue collector, said human rights were stopping teachers from punishing students.

"Their parents, guardians and teachers could be part of the solution, however their hands are tied up by a foreign flower, human rights," he said.

"The only sure way of nurturing our young boys and girls is for the parents to be allowed to cane their children when it's needed," he submitted.

Tui Wainunu Ratu Orisi Baleitavea has also called for the reinstatement of corporal punishment.

In his submission to the Constitution Commission he said the vanua of Bua had agreed to recommend as part of their submission to reintroduce this form of disciplining children.

However Save the Children Fiji CEO Chandra Shekhar disagrees. When asked for his opinion on the matter, he said schools should get to the root of the problem rather than physically punishing students.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: The Indian Express

He made this comment following a brawl between Avele and St Joseph's colleges in Apia on Tuesday.

The clash - involving a number of students scrapping and throwing rocks and bottles - took place at the bus depot behind the flea market at around 2.30 in the afternoon. Several cars were damaged as Police and firemen struggled to control the melee.

"Samoa only has to look at Singapore as an example of how corporal punishment works," Tuilaepa said.

"Singapore allows the administering of corporal punishment by the State and that country has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. So obviously they must be doing something right."

Five students have been charged by Police for fighting at a public bus stop causing injury to a father of Maagiagi and also injured two students of Saint Joseph's College who were sitting at the bus stop when the fighting started.

The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Leaupepe Fatu Pula confirmed that one of the students facing charges is from the National University of Samoa, who is an ex-student of SJC.

Leaupepe also confirmed that four other students from Saint Josephs College between the ages of 15-17 year old have been charged.

Source

• SavaliNews.com
• Talamua
• Talamua
• Image: BabyResearchProjects