Well, it is a very hard subject for me. When I was a school child, nobody allowed any mistake or misbehaviour to go unpunished. And as everybody knows, most (if not all) children cry, when they have to pay the penalty of breaking the rules.
But, islam teaches that nobody should make an orphan shed a single tear, and if anybody dares to do so he will be miserable both in this world and in the other.
There was a well to do girl in our neighbourhood, she was an orphan, but her father left her some inheritance. Well, this girl was too much active and the school principals were angry at this. But everytime they wished to deprive her of any privilege as a result of she did, she went to them and shed corcodile tears. Then, the school's head mistress, who was a very devout moselm would feel scared of "orphan tears" and began to cuddle her and apologize for causing her to cry! As a result, all her bad actions went unpunished!
(Note: she was not depressed at all. and this story is about her high school time)
She returned everyday and told her story to other boys and girls and give them a good laugh. (she felt proud of defeating "the bad Mrs. Alafchi")
What does The Church teach about this? should orphan children be given absolute freedom? Is it licit to punish them when they err, as we do to other children?