July 09, 2007
Corporal Punishment
Even the word, corporal punishment*, seems archaic and cruel to us, but is alive and well in Samoa. From parents hitting their children to teachers slapping and wacking their students to husbands beating their wives, these events are more common than not. The Samoan Constitution forbids it, but the law is rarely enforced. Obviously, it is more of a problem for the Peace Corps in Samoa than it is for the Samoans themselves.
I am sure there are many an American parent or teacher who might agree with Samoans once they see how well behaved and respectful Samoan children are. They seem to be well adjusted and happy children to me.
* Not to be confused with Capital Punishment which is alive and well in the U.S., but illegal in Samoa.
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