This is not that kind of caning, it's basically a harder form of slapping kids, not the one they give criminals that breaks the skin.

It depends. For some, yes. For most, no.

Not that I support caning by random teachers; this happens a lot of developing countries. A random teacher becomes the judge, the jury, and the executioner.

A caning punishment with proper investigation from proper authority seems like a good middle ground. Bullies should be punished. We cannot just brush it off as "they are just kids".

For minors, caning is with half-inch cane, which is the only one available in supermarkets. Only judicial caning is with the inch cane.

It's a matter of degree.

Life time physical or emotional scarring would, to pull out an example, be US slavery degree.

I grew up when corporeal punishment was a thing in schools. No physical or emotional scars.

Wish this is extended to white collar crimes.