Will Caning Stop School Bullies? What Singapore Parents Need to Know About MOE’s New Disciplinary Framework
As parents, nothing makes our blood boil faster than the thought of our child being bullied. Our first instinct is often to step in, seek justice, and demand that the perpetrator be punished.
Recently, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that by 2027, every school in Singapore will follow standard disciplinary measures for misconduct. The headline that immediately divided parents, teachers, and parliamentarians? School bullies can now receive up to three strokes of the cane. While some parents welcome this as a necessary deterrent, others view it as violence begetting violence. A recent episode of The Usual Place podcast tackled this heated debate, featuring insights from education reporter and former teacher Alicia Tyshara, alongside Ang Boon Min, CEO of the Singapore Children’s Society.
Here is a breakdown of the conversation and what it means for us as parents of secondary school students.
Does Caning Actually Work?
The short answer: It’s complicated.
Corporal punishment can certainly bring about quick, short-term compliance. For a student who isn’t used to physical discipline, the fear and embarrassment of being caned might be enough to stop the bad behavior in its tracks.
However, for long-term behavioral change, caning falls short. Former teacher Alicia Tyshara noted that some recalcitrant students actually wear their punishment like a “badge of honor” among peers, or get creative by padding their clothes with tissue paper. If a child is already desensitized to physical punishment at home, caning at school loses its impact. More importantly, it doesn’t teach a child why their behavior was harmful or how to change it.
Looking Past the “Bully” Label
One of the biggest takeaways from the experts is the need to shift our language and mindset. Instead of permanently labeling kids as “bullies” or “victims,” we should refer to them as “children who engage in bullying behavior” and “children who experience bullying.”
This isn’t just about being politically correct; it’s about recognizing that a child’s identity isn’t fixed. Often, bullying behavior stems from an unmet need or a lack of social skills. A child might tease others because it gets a laugh and makes them feel popular, or they might bully others as a defense mechanism because they were previously bullied themselves. Understanding the root cause is crucial to stopping the cycle.
A Surprising Revelation: What Kids Actually Want
You might assume that a child who has been bullied wants maximum punishment for their tormentor. Surprisingly, data from the Singapore Children’s Society’s Tinklefriend helpline reveals otherwise.
Most children actually don’t want the other child punished. Because they still have to share a classroom, go to recess together, and participate in PE, they are usually looking for practical advice on:
- How to get along with the person.
- How to restore a fractured friendship.
- How to move past the incident safely.
The Rise of Restorative Justice
Because punishment alone doesn’t heal the hurt, schools are increasingly turning to Restorative Justice. This approach focuses on repairing the harm done rather than just penalizing the offender.
It involves facilitated, safe conversations where the child who was hurt can express their feelings, and the child who caused the hurt can understand the impact of their actions and commit to doing better. MOE is also revamping Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons to include role-playing, which helps students build empathy and gives them the confidence to step in as active bystanders when they witness bullying, rather than just watching it happen.
How Parents Can Best Support Their Teens
If you discover your child is involved in a bullying incident (on either side), it is completely natural to feel highly emotional. However, the way we react can either de-escalate the situation or make it infinitely worse.
Here is what the experts recommend:
- Listen before you fix: Take a pause. Ask your child, “By telling me this, what would you like me to do for you?” Give them a voice and empower them to have a say in how the situation is handled.
- Don’t name and shame online: We’ve all seen the primary and secondary school parent WhatsApp groups blow up. Posting screenshots or demanding justice in a group chat usually spreads rumors, causes unnecessary drama, and deeply embarrasses your own child.
- Partner with the school: Teachers need time and space to investigate incidents fairly. Check in regularly with the school, but trust the process rather than going rogue and trying to confront other parents or students directly.
- Keep the door open: Don’t wait for a crisis to talk about bullying. Build a foundation of trust so your teen knows they can come to you with their struggles, and promise to respect their boundaries if they ask you not to immediately escalate an issue to their teacher.
Bullying, especially with the rise of complex cyberbullying on Instagram and TikTok, is an incredibly tough issue to navigate. While standardized discipline like caning draws the biggest headlines, the real work lies in building empathy, teaching better social skills, and keeping the lines of communication with our kids wide open.