Samsun Governor Osman Kaymak, who was appointed from Tunceli province last month, has told teachers that they can beat students in order to discipline them, the Sözcü daily reported on Thursday.
Kaymak, who spoke during a meeting organized by the Samsun Provincial Directorate of National Education, said: “Do not misunderstand my words. Don’t worry about slightly beating students with the purpose of disciplining them. You know parents write complaints to the Governor’s Office when something insignificant happens, saying ‘The teacher beat our child, pulled his ears.’ If teacher is not a psychopath and has done this with the purpose of disciplining, for the future of the child, we will always support you.”