QINGDAO IN EAST CHINA'S SHANDONG PROVINCE has recently issued a regulation on local primary schools and middle schools urging them to apply "moderate disciplinary punishments" to students who misbehave. Beijing Youth Daily commented on Wednesday:

Qingdao's new regulation allowing teachers to give misbehaving students physical punishments is said to be the first of its kind among all Chinese cities.

That many question whether teachers should be given the right to physically punish "bad" students is because they see such punishments as physical abuse, which they believe does not work as students should be encouraged to behave well in the classroom.

However, such an interpretation misses the big picture of school discipline.

School discipline is not about beating children or using force to ensure good behavior but about teaching the children boundaries. Physical punishments, if needed, should be based on good intentions and applied along with targeted persuasion.

In addition, how and when to administer physical punishment are questions that need answering.

Chinese schools can probably draw some inspiration from the practice in other countries. Take for example the credit deduction policy adopted by US schools. Those late for school or who leave early face a three-point deduction and absence from class for no reason can cost them five points. When a student has more than five points deducted it means studying on Friday night.

Although Qingdao's regulation makes clear that physical punishments can be used, it does not rule out other options. That said, boundaries must also be drawn over which teachers can resort to disciplinary methods and those students who defy their authority should be held accountable.