Would you say that this is typical of the way Chinese students are punished?

http://www.chinasmack.com/videos/young-schoolgirl-beaten-thrown-to-death-by-teacher/

Take a look around the whole site when you're there and you might just change your mind about the way Chinese students think.
My experience is that many are FAR more intelligent and know much more about what is happening in/to their lives than we give them credit for. Once they trust you they will talk about every aspect of China including what they see as the faults whether thats the corruption, the guanxi system or bad teachers both Chinese and foriegn.

Enjoy.