Opinions about an elementary school teacher who was caught on camera "birthday spanking" a young student have been mixed. In the video, the student prepared for impact as his teacher, beaming, brandished a wooden ruler. The kid was also laughing, thankfully. The video has gone viral on TikTok.
The student and teacher were participating in a tradition known as "birthday spankings," miming a spank for each year they are, plus "one to grow on."
Most commenters had no issue with this practice, saying it was a common tradition in North America. Some people, however, found the tradition a bit odd and uncomfortable.
One TikToker said he wouldn't continue the tradition if he were a teacher.
“If I was a teacher, the last thing you would see me doing is giving out birthday spankings to students. Because even if I was just doing it to be funny, people could see it in a very different light.”
One person, who was notably in the minority, commented on the lack professionalism.
@june_kk2/TikTok
But most people chimed in and said this wasn't really an issue.
@enrique.m420/TikTok
@krisb214/TikTok
Many pointed out that the child was clearly in on the joke.
@3xseeker/TikTok
@w.c.doublev/TikTok
Many shared their own experiences.
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@justinangli/TikTok
@allynwillow/TikTok
@justic.for.fat.unicorns/TikTok
@pastelxpunk/TikTok
Some people admitted that they have since realized how odd their school's traditions were.
@savannahmeritt/TikTok
It looks like the tradition of birthday spankings is still going strong in some areas, even though the rumblings of cultural change are growing louder.