why should a teacher flog a student because he or she doesn't have a particular text book or didn't pay for something?
it isn't the childs fault that the parents doesn't have money to buy such books or in some cases do not see the need of buying them
the right thing teachers should do is simply fail the child let the child be or if buying the textbook is will earn students a particular mark as their 1st assessment test, simply do not give the child such marks, not flogging the child or physically punishing the child. if there's anyone you should flog,go flog the parent and not the innocent child
the funny thing is that most of these teachers passed through the same thing while they where in school so I don't know why they can't appeal to their conscience and do the right thing