in thinking the teacher shouldn't have clipped my 7 year old son around the back of his head in class

[pingu2209]

My son was being a little sod, no doubt, but should she really have clipped him around the back of the head.

He told me that he quietly cried into his school work after it had happened.

However, when I queried with the teacher this afternoon she said that it really wasn't hard at all and barely brushed him. She also said that his behaviour didn't improve either.

I'm not sure what I'm thinking really. Teachers used to clip me, I had board rubbers thrown at me etc. It didnt' do me any harm.

[flippinada]

But corporal punishment is illegal.

If you (general you) have trained and/or qualified as a teacher in the last 20 - 30 years then you would know that physically punishing pupils could cost your your job and you don't do it

[zwischenzug]

I agree - it is stupid of the teacher to put themselves at risk. But that does not necessarily mean that a 3rd party should go out of their way to ensure the letter of the law is enforced just because they can.

[flippinada]

My DMum and Stepdad have over 60 years teaching experience between them (now retired).

They taught at secondary level, some of that time in rough schools and dealt with accordingly serious misbehaviour, which, I would hazard a guess, was a lot more challenging and provoking than that displayed by an averagely naughty 7 year old. Neither of them every used physical discipline. A good teacher doesn't need to.

[OnwardBound]

I actually find it a bit odd and sad that OPs son told her he had been hit and this had made him cry but OP chooses to believe that the teacher is good 'un and her behaviour was appropriate.

A clip on the back of the head [which the teacher admits] however light is not an appropriate disciplinary tool in modern teaching. And for what, a 7 year old giggling at funny faces?

Yep, a right 'little sod', he obviously deserved it

[flippinada]

Yeah OnwardBound I know what you mean.

And the behaviour really wasn't that bad. I know how 7 year old boys can be, but nothing the op described makes him sound more badly behaved than any kid the same age.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

If you know that for your job certain things are total no's then you don't do them.

When it comes to how you treat vulnerable people it is down to third parties to report.