(Thumbnail image: Sky News)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Video that rocked parents in Thailand. An art teacher at a Catholic boarding school — punishing his students one by one, with a cane officials say was wrapped with electrical cable. (Video from Sky News)

The teacher, Somchai Limthanmaporn, has been fired, and a police investigation is underway after parents filed complaints with law enforcement and the video was aired on Thai television.

ITN points out images of bruised bottoms suggest this wasn’t the first time Limthanmaporn used the extreme punishment, school officials are distancing themselves from the teacher.

“We have to let the police proceed according to the law. The school is definitely not going to protect him. If he was guilty he will definitely face the consequences. We are not going to defend him.”

The National Turk gives more details in the charges against Limthanmaporn, who local media report was not certified by the Teacher’s Council of Thailand.

“It is suspected that Mr. Limthanmaporn inflicted the same punishment to over 40 students according to an administrator at the St. Mary’s School in the northeastern province of the country. It has been alleged by the parents of the students that the crazed teacher inflicted the heartless punishments on the students because their rooms were not tidy enough.”

Finally, an article in Thailand’s Pattaya Daily News suggests this might not be an isolated incident.

“Thailand’s Education Ministry allows the use of verbal warnings, probation and termination by teachers were it is deemed necessary, however prohibits the use of inhumane or violent punishment, although the use of corporal punishment is not unusual in rural Thai schools.”

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