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A true story… A 12-year-old schoolboy was punished for misbehavior. A male teacher, about twice the child's size struck him five times on the buttocks with a wooden board. That afternoon, in response to an urgent call from the boy's sister, the mother left work and rushed home to find out what had happened to her son. She was horrified and outraged by appearance of the massive bruises he had sustained. She took him to the E.R. where he was treated and his injuries documented. Police were notified and took numerous photos. The mother also went to the school and showed the principal, the guidance counselor and the teacher who inflicted the punishment the effects of their discipline policy on her son's body. We are not describing an event that took place in the distant past or in some remote, backward region of the globe. This happened on September 12, 2005, in Rowland Middle School, Robeson County, North Carolina ("Ban the Paddle:," 2007).
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A closer look at corporal punishment in U.S. schools, especially the North Carolina HB 853
and SB 874
A true story…A 12-year-old schoolboy was punished for misbehavior. A male
teacher, about twice the child's size struck him five times on the buttocks with a wooden board. That afternoon, in response to an urgent call from the boy's sister, the mother left work and rushed home to find out what had happened to her son. She was horrified and outraged by appearance of the massive bruises he had sustained. She took him to the E.R. where he was treated and his injuries documented. Police were notified and took numerous photos. The mother also went to the school and showed the principal, the guidance counselor and the teacher who inflicted the punishment the effects of their discipline policy on her son's body.
We are not describing an event that took place in the distant past or in some remote, backward region of the globe. This happened on September 12, 2005, in Rowland Middle School, Robeson County, North Carolina ("Ban the Paddle:," 2007).
Corporal Punishment in schools is allowed in 23 States
AlabamaArizonaArkansasColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIdahoIndiana
KansasKentuckyLouisianaMississippiMissouriNew MexicoNorth
CarolinaOhio
OklahomaPennsylvaniaRhode
Island*South
CarolinaTennesseeTexasWyoming*banned by every school board in the state
(Family Education Network, 2000-2006)
Largely a Southern Phenomenon…
“School spanking is these days largely a Southern phenomenon. It’s safe to say that corporal punishment is centered in the old Confederacy and walks a narrowing path.”
North Carolina allows paddling, but at a rate far lower than the “paddling powerhouses” of Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi ("Paddle Policy: A Push," 2007)
It seems unreal in 2007…
In North Carolina, the following people are allowed to smack someone on the buttocks as part of their job:ProstitutesPorn starsEducators
(Riak, 2007)
In the most recent legislative session (2007-2008) in North Carolina, House Bill 853 and Senate Bill 874 were given consideration, but failed to
pass
North Carolina House Bill 853
The bill is referred to as “Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools” The intent of the bill is to prohibit the use or threat of corporal
punishment It is recommended that expulsion or suspension be considered instead
of corporal punishment in disciplining a student School personnel would be able to continue to use reasonable force in
the following situations: If a student was threatening injury to others If a student possessed a weapon or other dangerous object In self-defense For the protection of persons or property To maintain order on school grounds, in the classroom, or at a school
activity(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)
North Carolina Senate Bill 874 Differences between the house and senate versions
both bills state “Local boards of education shall adopt policies that prohibit both the administration of corporal punishment and the threat of corporal punishment,” but it is more prominently presented at the beginning of the house bill
The house bill also includes a section where G.S. G-21.4 is repealed (Allowance of counsel fees and costs in certain cases involving principals or teachers. In any civil action brought against a public school principal or teacher as defined in G.S. 115C‑390 arising or resulting from the use of corporal punishment, upon a determination that the principal or teacher has prevailed and that the plaintiff's action was frivolous or without substantial merit, the presiding judge may, in his discretion, allow a reasonable attorney fee to the duly licensed attorney representing the principal or teacher. The attorney's fee shall be taxed as part of the court costs)
(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)
North Carolina Senate Bill 874 Continued
The house bill also includes the following statement: “The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. Section 2 (G.S. 6-21.4 is repealed) of this act does not apply to civil actions arising from the use of corporal punishment prior to the effective date of this act.”
It is important to note that the Senate Bill 874 did not make it out of committee
(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)
Reasons behind proposed policyCurrently, 68 of North Carolina’s school districts
allow corporal punishment, while 47 have banned it at the local level
North Carolina is known across the country for its programs that encourage positive youth development
In this case the state is far behind and there are North Carolinians who support the use of corporal punishment in schools
The North Carolina Family Council says hitting children can be effective when applied in a caring manner
Other supporters of Corporal Punishment
The N.C. School Boards Association claims parents are desperate to get their children into a school that allows administrators to administer corporal punishment
A Representative who says the bill is one step away from the state coming into your home to tell you that you cannot spank your own children
Another Representative who claims, “I know I was a tough problem to handle in school as it was. I had one teacher that I told him later I think he whipped me like a rented mule. But I truly believe I would have served time in prison had I not had the discipline that I had in school” (Fuquay, 2007).
Politicians against a ban on CP Yet another Representative states, “I’m not
going to say I’m a victim of corporal punishment. I would say very clearly that I am a beneficiary of corporal punishment” (Fuquay, 2007).
The aforementioned people may not support corporal punishment, but they want to allow it to continue in North Carolina
They want to put the decision in the hands of the local school boards and the administrators of said schools
Support for the ban on Corporal Punishment in N.C. Schools
A petition by North Carolinians that covers six single-spaced pages – one name on each line, means there are some who believe this is wrong
An article that exclaims this is barbaricResearch shows that paddling results in injuryOften minorities, poor children, students with
disabilities, and boys are the recipients of corporal punishment
The same children are punished over and over
Ban Corporal Punishment?!Every industrialized nation in the world
except Canada and the United States has banned corporal punishment in schools
Corporal punishment is allowed in North Carolina schools, but not allowed in prisons, jails, detention centers, day cares, group homes, foster homes, and other institutions
Corporal punishment has been allowed in North Carolina since 1955, but the public claims that students keep getting worse and worse, so logically, it is not working
Bullying Banned Beating Allowed
Also taken into consideration this legislative session was a bill to stop bullying in North Carolina schools
Just before rejecting the corporal punishment ban, the house voted to require school boards to adopt bullying policies – paying particular attention to groups who are often victimized the most (Kane, 2007)
The N.C. House of Representatives expressed its distaste for bullying, but they do not seem to mind allowing teachers or administrators the option of picking up a wooden plank and hitting students
There is zero tolerance for bullying in North Carolina, but a teacher is allowed to walk around with a wooden paddle
How does CP Affect Youth Development?
Corporal Punishment Myths Corporal punishment is time efficient The effect of corporal punishment increases
with its use Corporal punishment attacks the problem
head on All students dislike corporal punishment Educators only use corporal punishment for
the benefit of their students Corporal punishment is a way of punishing
only those students who misbehave Corporal punishment prepares students to
live in a society that punishes those who break the rules
Corporal punishment deters aggression in students
Corporal punishment leads to the development of character
Corporal punishment teaches respect
More Myths Corporal punishment is the only thing
some students understand Without corporal punishment
behavioral problems increase Corporal punishment is used only as a
last resort Corporal punishment is necessary for
the protection of educators Corporal punishment works better than
other disciplinary methods Corporal punishment is harmless Corporal punishment is rarely used If educators don’t use corporal
punishment, then they will verbally abuse a student
Corporal punishment is needed as a last resort
Corporal punishment is used only for serious problems (Gaffney, 1997)
Derailed sexual developmentAccording to a letter written to N.C. Legislators
by Jordan Riak, the Executive Director of Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE), “Medical Science has long recognized, and documented in great detail, how being struck on the buttocks can stimulate sexual feelings. Children of school age are especially susceptible. The tragic consequence for some who are subjected to this kind of maltreatment is that they form a connection between pain, humiliation and sexual arousal that endures for the rest of their lives” (2007).
ViolenceThe message corporal
punishment sends to students is that violence is an acceptable response to conflict
Children should not be subject to violence in schools from adults or classmates
In states where spanking is allowed violent crime rates are higher
Teaches children that they can get their way through violence
An administrator at a Texas high school explains, “our five year experiment is evidence that discipline can be maintained without resorting to physical violence against a student. Eliminating corporal punishment has resulted in healthier and happier children” (Richardson & Evans, 1992).
In the words of one student…Hear my story hear my plightMy condition’s quite a frightI’m endangered, so they sayMy self-esteem has gone astrayTo discipline me, I am hitDeep inside me, my rage is litSo I fight back, you bet I doI model violence shown by youI’m surrounded with despairI’m shown neglect instead of careI need someone to emulateTo help me love and not to hateTo show me how, to take my handTo teach me right, to understandI do not want to land in jailI must succeed, I will not fail
Show me kindness instead of scornWith contempt I was not bornReach out and touch my very soulReach out and help destroy this roleThat I am playing on life’s stageFilled with violence, filled with rageHelp me out when I rebelI am going through such hellThere is hope for I can learnTo be productive and to learnI can be part of this societyIf you would just have faith in meIn your hands you hold my fateHelp me out, it’s not too late
Rita C. Richardson
I’M ENDANGERED SO THEY SAY
According to student teachers...
Causes students to become rebelliousDoes not provide a positive learning environmentCould be abused by teachers or administratorsCould lead children to believe violence is
acceptable, meaningful, and/or legitimate means by which to solve problems
Could cause emotional/physical harm to childrenPresent legal problems for those who administer
the punishmentOnly changes behavior or attitudes short term
(Diamantes, 1994)
Psychological Effects of CP
Negatively affects self-conceptIncreased anxiety and fearFeelings of helplessness and humiliationStifled relationships with othersAggression and destruction at home and at schoolTemporarily suppresses negative behavior, but does
not teach new behavior
Social Capital and CPStates that allow school corporal punishment
have significantly lower levels of social capitalAs the rate of corporal punishment increases ,
social capital decreasesThe level of support for corporal punishment
(either at home or school) in the community is directly related to the rate of school corporal punishment in the community
The disproportionate application of school corporal punishment to African American students is associated with low levels of social capital
More correlation between CP and Social Capital
“Not only must we eschew corporal punishment, but all kinds of punishment that might injure the child’s health must be forbidden”
“The more hitting of children that is permitted in the schools of a state, the higher that state’s murder rate”
The public’s general attitudes toward corporal punishment may be translated into policy allowing or encouraging corporal punishment in schools
Reducing corporal punishment could be a difficult challenge in the absence of legislation, a long-term strategy may be required (Owen, 2005)
CP’s Impact on Youth Development and the Future
The majority of research associated with the use of corporal punishment has presented this type of discipline in a negative light
CP is associated with future anti-social behaviorChildren learn that violence is an acceptable
way to deal with interpersonal differencesViolent strategies are modeled and added the
child’s behavioral repertoireIf children experience pain, they are likely to
inflict pain on others
CP’s Affect on the Future
Corporal Punishment teaches aggressive behavior and control
Corporal Punishment hinders the development of important problem-solving skills
Children who experience Corporal Punishment are more likely to engage in physical and verbal aggression with their spouses
Children who experience Corporal Punishment are less likely as adults to be able to take a spouses’ perspective in arguments
Corporal Punishment plays a role in the development of depression, domestic violence, suicide, child abuse, infant homicide, delinquency, school violence, bondage and masochistic sex, alienation, alcohol abuse, and spousal abuse (Webb, 2007)
Hitting Children is LegalAlthough hitting children is still legal in the state
of North Carolina, there are several states who have enacted policies against corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure in school
Research shows the states that have outlawed corporal punishment in schools have made a smart choice
As indicated by research, allowing corporal punishment to continue in schools inhibits youth development
Youth who are victims of corporal punishment in schools are more likely to exhibit violence in the future
Policy can change the future for our children…
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