Video showing ‘grumpy’ head teacher brutally beating student for sleeping in class in China sparks anger

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A disturbing video of a student being brutally beaten by his “grumpy” teacher in China has sparked outrage across the country and reignited the debate on corporal punishment in Chinese schools. The student later opened up about what had happened, saying: “After seeing me dozing off, the teacher came over and hit me.” “Our other teachers usually tell a sleeping student to stand up and listen to the lesson, but our headteacher was rather grumpy,” he was quoted as saying by the South China Morning Post. “My brother did not dare to tell us what happened, and I was heartbroken after seeing the video,” said Liu’s elder brother, who was not identifed by his first name. Corporal punishment has been banned in China since 1986, but many schools continue with the practice and local reports said parents also did not perceive this to be a serious matter.