IF self-discipline has gone to the dogs, then act like dogs.

A Hong Kong primary teacher might have subscribed to that.

He is accused of disciplining his pupils by making them crawl and bark like dogs, leading them around the classroom using their neckties as a leash.

The Education Bureau is also investigating if he has slapped at least one pupil, reported The Standard.

North Point Government Primary School principal Tang Oi-lin said the 40-year-old teacher is now on non-teaching duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

A parent first lodged a complaint of improper punishment against the Primary Three teacher on 21 Oct.

Three other complaints were lodged the next day alleging the teacher had slapped the pupil three times.

According to Ms Tang, the teacher admitted slapping a child for acting improperly but said the other alleged punishments were intended as jokes.

The school is treating the case as misconduct and the police are currently not involved because parents have yet to decide whether to press charges.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Oct 25, 2008.

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