In a recent NPR segment titled “Where Corporal Punishment Is Still Used In Schools, Its Roots Run Deep,” alarming statistics emerged regarding the continued use of physical punishment in educational settings. According to an investigation by Education Week, approximately 110,000 students across the United States experienced corporal punishment during the 2013–2014 school year, with certain states like Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas reporting tens of thousands of instances annually.
As a 34-year-old who grew up in Utah during the 1980s, I mistakenly believed that paddling as a disciplinary measure had become obsolete. I was shocked to discover, while listening to this story during my commute, that this outdated practice not only persists but is also legal in various parts of the country. To my disbelief, it occurs not only in elementary schools but also in high schools.
As a parent of three, I suspect many other parents share my prior assumption that corporal punishment was a relic of the past. I recall reading a story as a child about a student being paddled, which sparked a classroom discussion highlighting that such practices were no longer acceptable.
Complicating matters further, NPR reported that the majority of corporal punishment is administered with parental consent. A notable example is Principal Mark Thompson of Robbinsville High School in North Carolina, the only high school principal in the state who still enforces corporal punishment, and he does so only with permission from parents, which he usually secures.
Consider the implications: students aged 15 to 18 are summoned to the principal’s office for offenses such as a cell phone ringing during class. One example from NPR describes a sophomore girl who was given the option of being paddled or serving in-school suspension. The choice seems absurdly archaic, akin to receiving a ticket for driving a horse-drawn carriage on a modern highway. Yet, this young girl chose paddling, and her father’s response was, “Just paddle her because down here in the mountains, we do it the old-school way.”
It’s not my intention to label this father as a bad parent or to suggest that the practices at this North Carolina high school are reminiscent of the 19th century; rather, I encourage readers to form their own opinions. The majority of American schools have moved beyond such practices, and contrary to some narratives, our society has not descended into chaos where youth run amok like characters in “Lord of the Flies.”
Principal Thompson believes that implementing corporal punishment more widely would improve societal behavior, a stance that contradicts substantial research indicating that such punishment leads to higher dropout rates, increased instances of depression and substance abuse, and elevated violence in the long term.
On a more hopeful note, parents must opt in to allow school officials to physically discipline their children. If I received a call from a principal requesting to paddle my child, my immediate response would be a firm “Absolutely not.” I would contemplate taking further action, such as filing a complaint or transferring to a different school district. Unfortunately, for some families, especially in rural areas where these practices are more common, options may be limited. It is crucial for parents in these situations to explicitly deny permission for any physical punishment.
In December, numerous organizations, including the National PTA and the American Academy of Pediatrics, united in a letter advocating for the cessation of corporal punishment. The letter emphasizes that eliminating this damaging practice and adopting positive, evidence-based policies can ensure students have access to safe and quality education. I align with these organizations in believing that corporal punishment should be relegated to history.
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In conclusion, the practice of paddling in schools is an outdated form of discipline that needs to be eliminated. It has no place in modern education and contradicts the substantial evidence supporting healthier disciplinary measures.
Keyphrase: corporal punishment in schools
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