A school principal in Qatar will go to court in mid-March on charges of assaulting a second-grader by stabbing him repeatedly with a sharpened pencil.

Upon being questioned by the child’s father, the principal, who has not been fired or suspended from her job, allegedly told him that “this is the best way to discipline children. I used to burn the hands of my son when he was young.”

The incident, which took place in December, sent shock waves throughout households in Qatar and prompted the Supreme Education Council to remind school officials that they are not allowed to discipline children using corporal punishment. 

Gulf News reports:

According to the boy’s parents who are suing the school, the principal in December attacked their son, claiming that she wanted to “re-educate” him and that experiencing pain was the best way to improve his behaviour.

“It all started when my son and a classmate had a small fight,” the mother said, quoted by the Qatari daily.

“The next day, my son was called in the principal’s office. When he got there, she took out a pencil, sharpened it, took my son’s right hand and started stabbing it until he started bleeding,” she said.

Wonder how the trial will turn out. Predictions?