Kirk here with news about collective punishment in Hitoyoshi.
A few students were late so everyone was made to suffer collective punishment. This became news because the kids (including those who had done nothing wrong) got blisters on their feet from the extreme heat. Personally, I find the the idea of collective punishment itself (which never would have warranted a news article had it not been for the burns) to be about as abhorrent as the idea of making kids run on a hot surface.
— start ChatGPT translation — Middle School in Hitoyoshi City: Students Suffer Burns from Running Barefoot on Poolside Under the Scorching Sun July 23, 19:09
It has come to light that students at a middle school in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, suffered burns on their feet after being made to run barefoot on the poolside under the scorching sun.
The incident occurred at Hitoyoshi City Daiichi Middle School in Kumamoto Prefecture.
According to the city’s Board of Education, on the 19th of this month, some students were late for a swimming class, prompting a physical education teacher in his twenties to hold the entire class of 26 students, including those observing, collectively responsible by making them run on the poolside.
At the time, the students were all barefoot and had to run seven laps around the 25-meter pool under the scorching sun.
The Kumamoto Local Meteorological Observatory reported that the highest temperature in Hitoyoshi City that day was 34.2 degrees Celsius. After the class, 21 students complained of pain in their feet and received treatment in the school infirmary.
Some students had burns with blisters on the soles of their feet, and five of them visited medical facilities.
Following the incident, the school held a briefing session for parents to explain the situation and made home visits to directly apologize to the families of the five students who were severely affected.
The male teacher reportedly stated during the school’s inquiry, “My judgment was poor. I am sorry for causing injuries to the students.”
Kazuhiro Nishi, the principal of Hitoyoshi City Daiichi Middle School, issued a comment saying, “We deeply apologize for causing physical and mental distress to the students. The entire school will work on preventing a recurrence and improving guidance for the students.” — end translation —
