Can the children defend themselves, or are they legally required to passively accept the beatings? If you're going to beat people's kids, at least level the playing field.
And no, you can’t retaliate in secret by putting thumbtacks in the master’s shoes - that just results in cohort punishment and witch-hunts by your fellow pupils who want to skewer whoever is responsible for bringing down the wrath of god upon them.
Fear is an exquisite control mechanism.
When and where did you go to school?
Edit: The question was rhetorical, to point out the absurdity of the situation.
As a parent now, god help any teacher that would dare lay hands on my kid.
Children are required to obey direction from school authorities within the legal scope of that authority, and in jurisdictions allowing corporal punishment may be beaten for failure to comply.
Additionally, should they resist public officials executing their lawful duties by force, this would generally be a crime (often a felony.)
So, yeah, they just have to take their beatings, or be eligible for even more beatings, or worse.
Absolutely a person should be able to prove how tough they are.
Bare handed.