School teachers can go overboard.
I remember back when I was in the sixth grade.
Teacher decided to "give licks" to every male in the class, whether you did anything bad or not. Simply because he had the power and the sadistic SOB decided to use it.
When my turn came I refused to take it.
The teacher grabbed me and I hit him in the jaw, knocking him on his ass.
Got kicked out of school.
When my dad found out what happened he met with the teacher and told him, "If you ever touch one of my kids again I will kill you"
Issue settled.
Giving licks to kids on general principle is clearly abuse. It's also evidence of a sadistic personality. That person should be relieved of his position. I would also back charges being brought.
I had a similar experience in 5th grade with a sadistic witch who actually got off on paddling kids...
She'd pull the girls skirts up so the whole class could see their panties while she hit them so hard they jolted from head to toe.
She'd intentionally give so much homework at night that only a handful of kids could get it done (if they set up til the wee hours). That way she had a line of kids every day to beat on.
Years later, even my mother admitted she was puzzled by how much useless work the woman gave us (like copying complete pages of text).
It got to where the room would be full of weeping kids before class even started. One girl started vomiting before class. Finally, I guess the parents, who were extremely old world 'spare the rod' types...even they had enough and went to the principal.
She stopped, but you could tell she was furious about being reigned in. And I heard later, she never taught again after that year.
I hate adults who hit kids. I've seen too many with a glitter in their eye that lets you know that the only thing better for them is sex.
...and that's why men used to be real men in this country. Great story.