Concerned about school education

I would like to express my concern about education at SMP 57 on JL. Halimun, South Jakarta.

My younger sister who is a student at SMP 57 junior high school was hit behind the knee with a stick bruising her leg. The teacher caused psychological and physical trauma to my sister.

On Jan. 21, 1997 a class was supposed to have an extra geography lesson. At noon the students saw the geography teacher leave the school. After waiting more than five minutes for an announcement from the school, the 27 students decided to go home. Shortly after another teacher arrived to take the class.

The next morning all the students who had gone home early and not waited for the replacement teacher were assembled in the corridor in front of the teachers' room, visible to everyone, and beaten with a wooden stick.

The teacher said if the same students behaved the same again she would deal out heavier penalties. My sister could not go to school the next day because of the sores on her leg.

The question is, to what extent can a teacher administer punishment to a junior high school student? Did the students' actions deserve punishment with a wooden stick, especially given there was no announcement a replacement teacher had been arranged? Is it appropriate for a teacher to threaten students with brutal action? Are teachers aware their actions can cause psychological trauma and affect the development of students?

I would appreciate an answer from the School Director of SMP 57 and the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Name and address

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