A new study by the New Zealand Educational Institute found that removal of corporal punishment in schools causes rise in violence against teachers. The New Zealand Herald reports:

The study also found more than 50 per cent of teachers and more than 25 per cent of school support staff reported "aggressive verbal confrontations" with pupils.

Bob McCoskrie, national director of conservative family lobby group Family First, said a Justice Ministry report late last year showed serious youth violence had increased by 27 per cent since 1996.

"All of these young people have entered a system of education and society where discipline and responsibility are being replaced by the politically correct nonsense of childrens' rights," said says Mr McCoskrie.

"It is significant that as schools have removed corporal punishment, schools have become more dangerous. School yard bullying by pupils on other pupils and staff is now the new form of 'corporal punishment' in schools.

I do not agree with Mr McCoskrie's attitude towards children's rights. Of course, children have rights, and not being caned is one of them. However, children need to be disciplined. If not, they turn on each other and the victims of bullying will suffer even more. We see this problem in the Swedish schools, where children can do pretty much what they want without any reprimand whatsoever.