Apology for 'Pupils prefer the pain'

23 March 2017 - 15:54 By The Times
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
An empty classroom. File photo.
An empty classroom. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock

The Times apologises for wrongly, unfairly and misleadingly stating in its lead story ("Pupils prefer the pain") on January 11 that pupils see corporal punishment as part of a teacher’s role.

Press ombudsman Johan Retief said the articlebreached the Press Code by partly blaming pupils for teachers’ use of violent discipline. He was ruling on a complaint by Dr Stefanie Röhrs, of the Children’s Institute at the University of Cape Town, and Wessel van den Berg, of Sonke Gender Justice.

He also reprimanded us for not providing the necessary context with regards to the scope of the story, and for leaving out the words “at school” by a pupil with reference to a culture which is acquainted with violence.

Visit www.presscouncil.org.za for the full finding.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now