Corporal Punishment in Schools

Jessica Jones

What is corporal punishment? It is defined under the human right laws, as

any punishment that involves physical force that is intended to cause some type

of pain or punishment. (“Corporal Punishment.”)

According to the Corporal Punishment article from the CNN website, there are 22 states that

still allow this form of punishment in schools.

The American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) and Human Rights Watch program documented

cases of corporal punishment …– Children were grabbed around the neck, arm,

or elsewhere. – Students were hit with enough force to create

bruises. – Some kids have been thrown to the floor,

slammed into a wall, and dragged across the floor.

According to the Department of Education, the total number of students in Texas who were issued to corporal punishment in 2006-2007 school years

totaled up to 223,190 students. African Americans and children with disabilities received punishment

more often

Autism children were punished because of their behavior affected but their condition

One teacher felt that a child was doing some things on purpose, so the child was physically punished repeatedly at seven years old with

autism.

Recent Cases

In an article by Mark Walsh he writes about a girl named Jessica Serafin who

was paddled by her San Antonio charter school principal four years ago.

She had just turned 18 and was not ok with being struck 3 times with a wooden paddle. She asked to be removed from

the school before receiving the punishment but they did not let her.

Continued…

After the first strike she freed one hand that was hit, and her principal said,

“That one didn’t count.”

Two staff members helped restrain her and he paddled again.

She called her mom and left the school with her buttocks bleeding and swollen hands. She was treated at a hospital emergency

room.

Although her 8th amendment (Can’t inflict cruel and unusual punishment) was violated, corporal punishment was allowed at her school, and while she was a minor, her guardian had signed papers to authorize the use of this punishment.

Even though she had turned 18, the student knew she was subject to the school's discipline as long as she was enrolled.

The Center of Effective Discipline States that…

They are not sure exactly when the paddle started, but it has been

suggested that the paddle had become common for schools in most districts by

the 1920s-1930s

Some form of this punishment is still being used in twenty-two states

Corporal Punishment is more popular in the

south.

8th Amendment does not apply in corporal punishment schools.

Some children receive corporal punishment more intensely and more often than others. – Children with disabilities– African Americans

If the school allows Corporal Punishment,

teachers and principals do not need a notice or hearing before performing the

punishment

Corporal Punishment in U.S. Public Schools2005-2006 School Year: data released

March, 2008

6.Tennessee…. 1.5%7. Texas….1.1%8. Georgia…. 1.1%9.Missouri

Out of 223,190 students in the U.S, here is a list of the 10 worst states with that were students hit by educators in the school year of 2006-2007…

1. Mississippi…. 7.5%2. Arkansas…. 4.7%3. Alabama…. 2.3%4. Oklahoma…. 2.3%5. Louisiana…. 1.7%

Here is a bar graph of the average graduation rates of students who were paddled and

students who were not. This clearly shows that students who are not paddle have a

higher success rate of graduating.

Work CitedCorporal Punishment". CNN. Jan 2009

<www.cnn.com/us>.  

Stephey, M.J. "Corporal Punishment". TIME. Oct 20 2009 <www.time.com>.

 "The Center of Effective Discipline". TIME. Oct 20

2009 <www.stophitting.com>.

Walsh, Mark. "The Supreme Court and Corporal Punishment". Education Week. June 17, 2008 <www.edweek.org>.

Cited Pictureshttp://

blogs.dallasobserver.com/sportatorium/2009/04/corporal_punishment_at_dallas.php

http://www.mynews.in/news_details.php?nid=18110

http://in.theasianparent.com/articles/corporal-punishment-still-happening-in-schools

http://beta.thehindu.com/life-and-style/kids/article16378.ece

http://www.askamum.co.uk/News/Search-Results/Current-news/One-in-five-parents-wants-caning-back-in-schools

/

http://www.stophitting.com/index.php?page=statesbanning

The information from the graphs can be found at… http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard .