That's awful. I support caning for criminals like in Singapore. But really- caning is beating. You don't want to beat children. Can't you just spank them?!!! Or even with a ruler slap them. Caning children is just cruel!
Now, that is certainly not a universal feeling. It wasn't where and when I was growing up, and it isn't now in most parts of the world.
Practically speaking I think it is quite a neutral practice, in terms of emotional damage, etc.