Even advocates of tougher discipline in Britain's schools would be shocked by the punishment meted out by a teacher in Japan – who forced two students to drink ACID!
The teacher ordered the teenage boys to drink diluted hydrochloric acid after they reported an incorrect result in a science experiment, according to a report in the Nikkei Shimbun newspaper.
The incident only came to light when another student told his parents what had happened.
The teacher said the acid wasn't dangerous because it was diluted. But education officials of the local board of education in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, were not convinced and said they were deciding on their own disciplinary measures for the teacher.
"As this incident posed a risk to the life and health of students, it was a grave failure of leadership and we can only apologise to the students and their families," the board said in a statement.
"We are currently deciding in disciplinary measures for the teacher involved."
The incident has focused new attention on the punishments meted out to children in Japan's schools.
Teachers are forbidden to use corporal punishment against pupils, but the suicide in December of a 17-year-old student after he was repeatedly slapped across the face for mistakes has demonstrated that it remains an integral part of school life there.