I don’t see what is wrong with a teacher affectionately touching a student! (Wow, that came out sounding so weird…) now, that doesn’t mean I approve of corporal punishment. They are two completely different things! Chad veshalom that I would ever approve of such barbarism! I don’t think anyone ever benefits from corporal punishment. It just makes te student detest his teacher, and by extension, Judaism too!
I vividly remember an incident in which a teacher of mine hugged and kissed me, after I achieved a major breakthrough in something. I needed that validation. Words wouldn’t accomplish nearly as much as that did.