|
|
No. Your teacher cannot cane you. Your teacher may be angry but he cannot touch you or hit you.
On Friday 23 June 2000, a man was sent to jail for one month for caning a five year old boy. The man is the friend of the boy's mother. Apparently, the boy had uttered some bad words at his mother and the man. The court ruled that the man was not the child's legal guardian and had no right to cane the boy. The man's defence that he had caned the boy to discipline him for bad behavior was rejected by the court.
Similarly, your teacher has no right to cane you or touch you in anger. If your teacher is upset with you, he should take you to the principal of the school. The principal has to follow strict guidelines (issued by Ministry of Education) when caning a student.
In one case, a teacher pulled a primary one boy by the collar in anger. The parents were upset when they heard about it. They approached the principal but were dissatisfied with the explanations given. They consulted their lawyer. The lawyer arranged a meeting between the principal, the teacher involved and the parents. At the meeting, the teacher and the principal apologised for their action and the matter was resolved.
In this case, the lawyer was aware that (as far as possible) the matter is best resolved in an amicable manner without going to court. The lawyer, therefore, explained the complaint to the school in a gentle, yet firm manner because the lawyer is aware that the parents and the school have to co-operate with each other to look after the boy.
If this matter had not been resolved amicably, the parents could have filed a complaint in court.
After the Magistrate has listened to your Complaint, he may issue an order requiring the teacher to appear in Court.
You can see a sample of a Complaint below
IN THE SUBORDINATE COURTS OF SINGAPORE
COMPLAINT
Complainant
Please state: Tan Ah Kow
Address: 21 Merah Drive # 03-153 Singapore 100051
NRIC No. S3777371B
Tel: 272 4772
Date: 13 July 2000 Time 11 am
Solicitor
Mr John A K Lim
Firm: ABC & Partners
Tel: 434 2330 Fax: 334 7008
File Ref No. T623/977804JL
Respondent
Please state: Lim Jung Yew
Address: 51 Telok Kurau Singapore 100051
NRIC No: Not Known
Tel: Not Known
Relationship: Nil
Complaint
Police Report No: D/85 dated 9 July 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ FOR OFFICIAL USE
MSS/SS/PSS/C __________/ ________ ________ DIV
Summons Serial No: __________________
Date of Service & Time: ____/____/_____ 9:00 am / 2:00pm
Court Date & Time : ____/____/ _____ 9:00 am / 2:00pm
Court No:
Issue Notice/Warrant/Summons
Against ___________________________________________
Of :_______________________________________________
Under Section : ________________________________
District Judge/Magistrate
The complainant being examined on oath states :-
(1) On 9 July 2000, I was studying in class secondary 1 D of Monsoon Road School Jalan Kurau Singapore 2333345. Lim Jung Yew teaches me Mathematics. I forgot to bring my homework.
(2) Lim Jung Yew became angry and shouted at me. I was sitting at my desk. He pull me up by holding my collar with his left hand and slapped by face with his right hand.
(3) I was injured in the face and I went to the Alexandra Hospital for treatment. After that I wentthe Clementi Police Station to report the attack.
(4) I now pray for process against Lim Jung Yew.
Signature of Complainant
Before me
District Judge / Magistrate
Interpreted by
Interpreter of the Court
Raffleslaw.com
