Studies reveal that beating children in schools is not tolerated in many countries around the world as a method to control students. Yemen is one of the countries where beating is widely used to teach and educate school children.

In return, there are increased voices demanding firm laws that prohibit physical punishment against children, while some believe that light beating is sometimes necessary in order to educate children.

Sociological scientists assure that the early years of a child's age is the important stage that forms the child's character, and consider severity the worst aspect that children face either in schools or homes, lamenting that cruelty against children may lead them to loosing self-confidence, weakening their performance and increasing dependence on their peers.    

Primary school teacher Ammar Abdullah Nasser claims that beating children depends on the personality, which carried out the punishment. He says that the issue of beating children should be an option, and there are some criteria that rely on the person's state of condition. "Although beating is a bad principle in educating students, we still use it," he said.

Studies indicate that it is better to deal with the child when wanting to educate him or her in two phases: the first phase is to make the child understand what is right and wrong. The second is a mixture of two results: the first to grasp the child when he or she is following the mandatory behavior and the second is the punishment upon violation; however, such punishment should not be exercised only when necessary.

When asking children about the suitable manner of dealing with them at home and at school, more than half expressed the wish to be understood and supported, instead of being hit. In the case of schools, children openly declare that they wish for teachers to respect students. "I don't like to be cornered before my fellow classmates and be criticized and blamed publicly by the teacher," said a 12-year-old student Ibrahim Ahmed Amer Al-Suraimi.

The International Save the Children Alliance's global submission to the UN Study on Violence reported that more than half of the children exposed to violence at home expressed feelings of anger, and to a lesser extent frustration. There was no difference between urban and rural areas, but there was a disparity between girls and boys, with girls more likely to feel a desire to leave their home or run away to a relative. Children exposed to physical punishment at school reported feeling frustration, particularly girls, and to a lesser extent sadness and anger. A significant number of children reported depression. Far fewer reported anger, although a significant number of children reported the desire for revenge.

Beating by one or both parents is not the only violence against children. Violence is widespread among the children themselves, as they must fight to survive. “We formed a gang to protect this area and our friends from others.” pointed out 15-years-old school student Mohammed Al-Salami.

In many societies throughout the country, punishment has seen a decline while two decades ago parents supported the use of the physical punishment against children. UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Middle East and North Africa Mahmoud Kabil delivered an emotional speech at the ISPCAN conference hinting that every child getting slapped, humiliated or intimidated by educators in their classrooms is likely to become an equally abusive and hateful parent, leader and professional in the future,” he noted. “Re-educating parents remains at the very core of efforts to curb the harmful and persisting cycle of violence against children.”

"Beating is an unhealthy manner for treating children. It results in isolating them and it may lead them to go to streets to escape such situations," admits 35-year-old father of three Bader Al-Sabahi, adding that beating is not an educational method, and can't be understood by the child's mind.