Teachers are darned if they do …
In a number of (mostly rural) Oklahoma school districts, teachers are allowed to swat students on the backside with a paddle in an effort to discipline them. The law allowing corporal punishment has been on the books for years. We’re one of about 20 states that allows it.
Maybe it’s time to revisit that law. In Cordell, the mother of a 12-year-old boy says the teacher who paddled her son went too far.
The boy’s father gave the school his OK for the punishment, but the mother says the paddling left bruises that lasted three days. The district attorney looked into the woman’s complaints and found no wrongdoing. But given today’s sensitivity regarding treatment of children, allowing paddling would seem to invite trouble.
On the other hand, the tail wags the dog in too many Oklahoma classrooms. Even grabbing a disruptive student by the arm to escort him out of the room can result in a reprimand from the brass or a complaint from mom or dad. It’s a real conundrum.
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Comments
What in the world is going on. You mean to say that a teacher actually tried to control her classroom by disciplining an un-controlable student. I mean anybody who is everybody knows how easy it is to learn anything in an atmosphere of chaos. Let’s get serious here-The bible says spare the rod spoil the child. I say that if the situation merits it the bottom is a good place to start. It did not harm my tender little feelings when I miss behave and received a paddling at school but, it was worse when I got home and received another-much worse-from Mom or Dad. I was sent to school to learn not to act the fool. It was what my dad paid taxes for and I was soon taught how to act and what the consequences would be if I did not act right. A parent what is afraid to correct a child is no parent.
Schools are responsible for safety of children entrusted to them for their care and education. Hitting any person with a wooden paddle is assault in public. See shocking brutally violent injuries to schoolchildren K-12 from school paddling at YouTube Video Trailer for Documentary Movie “The Board of Education” by Jared Abrams. Federal Bill H.R. 3027 “The Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act” is due to expire in Congress again December 2012, earlier version H.R. 5628 DIED in U.S. Education Committee December 2010! Corporal Punishment is Illegal in Schools in 31 U.S. States and Prohibited by Federal Law for use against convicted Felons in ALL U.S. Prisons! See dont hit students dot com