I’m with you. I can’t imagine having someone slap me on the back side as a kid. I’d have slapped the daylights out of them and been terribly humiliated. What these kids did reflects a lack of respect. But I don’t think it’s criminal and I think the punishment way exceeds the crime. They need to figure out an appropriate discipline for this and administer it consistently when needed. Then drop it.
If they'd slapped those girls in their faces would that be criminal? If so then a slap on the backside is NOT criminal? If not then we should live in a society where people can just, boom, slap other people, anywhere on their person, and it's.....eh, okay?
And if another female should dare to suggest that this male behavior is bawdy and boorish please be sure to attack HER, be sure to call HER names, be sure to post pictures of very ugly women and give her a wide berth and refer to her as "dragon lady", by all means, put a quote from mighty viagara-eating, can't-keep-a-woman, valerie-plame-loving Rush Limbaugh as a great source for the kind of hideous ugly-assed women who dare to suggest that women should not be treated as objects for the sexual gratification of any man who so desires a fond touch. For, as Rush's quote advises, women who complain about such things are very unattractive.
Whatever you do, defend those sweet boys who ran down the hall swatting the butts of school girls, some of whom could be your daughters. For this is just fine.