Teachers were not allowed to beat children as they did in the past, although, Mma Ramotswe reflected, there were some boys-and indeed some young men-who might have been greatly improved by moderate physical correction. The apprentices, for example: would it help if Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni resorted to physical chastisement-nothing severe, of course-but just an occasional kick in the seat of the pants while they were bending over to change a tyre or something like that? The thought made her smile. She would even offer to administer the kick herself, which she imagined might be oddly satisfying, as one of the apprentices, the one who still kept on about girls, had a largeish bottom which she thought would be quite comfortable to kick. How enjoyable it would be to creep up behind him and kick him when he was least expecting it, and then to say: Let that be a lesson! That was all one would have to say, but it would be a blow for women everywhere. Alexander McCall Smith
About This Quote

Mma Ramotswe, the owner of Tlokweng Road Speaks, is surprised that teachers are not allowed to beat children as they did in the past. The thought of a teacher striking a child never occurred to her. She feels that it would be good for some boys to have their bottoms kicked by their teacher. She imagines this teacher chasing after one of the boys and giving him a hard kick in the seat of his pants.

Source: The Kalahari Typing School For Men

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