Teacher seeks court nod to use the rod

Barrister Paul Diamond laid out the school’s case before three of the country’s top judges on the opening day of the appeal. ‘‘It is a central tenet of Christian religion that mankind is born with a heart inclined to all kinds of evil.’’

Diamond argued corporal punishment is not prohibited by European Convention on Human Rights. ‘‘The question for the court is whether and to what extent the state is permitted to prohibit the punishment,’’ he said.

‘‘In Biblical doctrine, children are a gift from God, but parents have responsibility for care, instruction, nurturing and disciplining,’’ he said. Last year, Williamson, backed by a group of teachers and parents, lost a High Court fight for the right to introduce corporal punishment at his school. His case then partly centred around a Biblical passage — ‘‘Your rod and staff they comfort me’’ — which he said supported the Christians’ right to impose corporal punishment. (Reuters)