The Gulag has asked for evidences that will prove the effect of educating the young by means of punishment for those who go beyond the limit allowed in a society.

But he has conveniently forgotten to cite a society where overprotection of young ones - with the inculcation of all positive values - had/has indeed brought about a society that is rid of violence. Or, for that matter, a single country that does not have laws with some forms of violent means that safeguards the civility of its society.

Please don't be hypocritical. If you are put in power to govern a society, you too will subscribe to the very systems that you are decrying now. When you do not have the responsibility, you can be very eloquent with fascinating theories that will be good for armchair discussions.

History has proven time and again that the human beings have self-destruct tendencies and when these tendencies take an upper hand, all the best preaching on positive values vanish.

Mahatma Gandhi preached ahimsa , but we should not forget the violence that he had undergone that made him preach for non-violence. Alas, he himself fell victim to the very violence that he abhorred.

Ahimsa

did not save him, as in reality ahimsa can only survive in a highly civilised society - and that is asking for an Utopia. For a moderately civilised society to function, there must be law and order that curtails the negative tendencies of the community members.

What is wrong in educating the younger ones - especially when certain crimes are committed at an alarming rate - on the consequences of such negative actions?

The use of the cane is not new in our schools. The principal and the discipline teachers - and others authorised by the principal - can mete out caning. These educators mete out a very mild form of caning. In many schools, some teachers carry a small cane just to keep the students in check.

Most students perceive that whipping is just like the caning in schools. But whipping meted out through court orders is not anywhere near similar to caning in schools. As more and more youth get involved in crime, it is the society's duty to educate them on the consequences.

Ignorance of the law can't be an excuse for our youth. A need has now arisen due to the crime rate and indiscipline in schools that have swamped counselors who have been relying on psychology to solve these problems.

With regards to the whipping demonstrations, it is the responsibility of the educators to prepare the students for such demonstrations. The severity of the negative actions that harm other human beings should be aptly highlighted for the students to understand the punishment of whipping.

The well-orientated students will be assured that they have some protection from evil ones in society, while those contemplating the evil path will have to do some rethinking. Physical punishment has been a deterrent in human history.

Just look at our religious teachings. Those who do good will go to Heaven, but those who do evil will go to Hell. Have we seen the illustrations/stories of the torture that befall those who go to Hell? Why didn't the religions confine themselves to only Heaven?

If we want some proof of fall in crime rates due to physical punishment, we only have to look at some Middle East countries that testimony to the fact that public punishments do have a deterrent effect on crime-bent human beings. Whether such a punishment creates vengeance or anger for retribution will entirely depend on the society itself.

If we have many people who are critical of such punishments - even of caning in schools - then the young criminal will become braver and will not wish to change. Most of our problems in Malaysia - be it school discipline, the fight against crime/graft - cannot be addressed effectively as we are so divided in our views.

If an the offender gets off lightly; this in turn encourages others to be bolder.

Do we have a perfect system that will be acceptable to all and at the same time be effective? No matter which doctrine you turn to, you will not be able to find one. We must solve our problems in our own way.

Students must be educated to know the differences between good and bad, being kind and cruel and the consequences of these actions. Teaching them only about the consequences of being good, kind, and positive will not equip them to face the real world.

At the same time, I am not against psychology or counseling - but these should not be the only methods to educate our children. We need to use a combination of methods to educate the young and to combat the rising crime rate.

I reiterate that whipping demonstrations in public and in schools are not a bad idea.