Students are helping to revise Government's Code of Conduct for schools.

And corporal punishment is one section which is expected to come under close scrutiny.

Education Minister Tim Smith, an advocate of such punishment, told The Royal Gazette he was confident that the Code was clear on what was and was not tolerated in and by schools.

But he admitted that the two-year-old document was "silent'' on where corporal punishment should be administered.

"My view is that you praise in public and discipline in private,'' Mr. Smith said, referring to a recent incident involving Northlands Primary principal Dale Butler.

Mr. Butler made headlines when he strapped three boys during an assembly for stealing.

He was criticised by Sheilagh Cooper, chairperson of the Coalition for the Protection of Children and Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher.

But Mr. Butler drew support and praise from many members of the community, including Northlands PTA president Leonard Santucci.

And yesterday Mr. Smith said he also had "no problem with'' Mr. Butler's method of discipline.

He said among his expectations for the public school system was to have "students study and teachers work in a social, civil and safe environment''.

"Each party has a role to play,'' Mr. Smith stressed. "Parents must reinforce with children certain values of mutual respect and pupils are expected to display those attributes.'' During recent visits to schools, he added, teachers made it clear that they needed help in class management.

More supervision by teachers and parents could address such a problem, Mr.

Smith suggested.

Principals also needed to ensure that their messages of discipline were fair.

"That's why I have no problem with Dale Butler's approach,'' he said.

The committee working on revising the Code includes a student from Berkeley Institute and a student from CedarBridge Academy.

A senior Police officer has come to the support of Mr. Butler over his decision to strap three students at a school assembly.

Sgt. Clarke Minors of the Police's Community and Services Department said Mr.

Butler acted within the law when he administered the beatings.

And he told parents at a public meeting earlier this week that all children needed to be punished occasionally, but it was important for parents not to go too far.

"It is a bit of a grey area but I believe that discipline is necessary,'' he said. "But you ought not go overboard to the point where your child is going to come up with an injury. If you hit your child and that child is badly marked or has wounds that's assault and we will come looking for you.'' Tim Smith Profile: Page 3