03/12/2013
School Bullying at Channel College, Samoa -A posting on Corporal Punishment - (GUEST WRITER D. Fepuleai)
An interesting effect of lowered cost of mobile phones in modern times is now almost everyone in Samoa has one. And with these phones we have seen many issues previously hidden in the dark come to the public's attention via the internet. (domestic violence, new born babies discarded, even a few incidences of r**e). The newest video shows a student of chanel college being beaten by other students whilst a man (identified as a teacher) looks on and does nothing.
Like many people reading this post, I myself was born and raised in Samoa. This is nothing new. This is not a case of modern youth being led astray by western ways or the influence of popular culture. School bullying and violence in schools (whether it is a teacher hitting a student or older students bullying younger students) is something anyone who went through the school system in samoa is all too familiar with.
I was hit in school, by teachers, by other students, you name it. And I experienced the same - both in government schools and church schools.
I am glad that this video has come to light. Good. But let's not pretend this is something new or an effect of the outside world on our youth. This is something that occurs with alarming frequency. And it needs to stop.
Hitting and bullying and violence is not a part of the Fa'a Samoa. It is an aberration and a crime that must be punished. There is no way to justify it. I am talking about any form of corporal punishment. Let those who carry out such violence and allow it to happen beware. We will not take it anymore, we will show you for who you are and we will bring you to justice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTOzcEVPqZU
A video shot on a mobile phone shows a student at Chanel College being punched by fellow students, while a man said to be a teacher, looks on.