Corporal Punishment

[RustyAngeL]

the female coach that was called in to administer the paddling gave her a swat on the rear that wouldn't have sent a fly into a tailspin it was so gentle. BUT, it was done in a glass-enclosed office, between classes. others saw. i've taken lots of flack for allowing my daughter to suffer such humiliation, but a little humiliation is good for the soul... and she never misbehaved in school again.

Mommy Power!

I knew it worked.

[rtwo]

I think it is appropriate for the school to take action if the parents refuse to do so. Someone needs to love the child enough to teach them that consequences will follow bad behavior.

I disagree only becuase it's a dangerous road to go down. Parenting is the responsibility of the parent. I think LadyC mentioned the school calling in the parent to administer punishment -- THAT I agree with, so long as the parent is able to do it his or her own way. I disagree with any collective deciding what the right way is to "love" my child.

Having said that, depending on the circumstance, I may very well be willing to let the school spank my child. But they certainly shouldn't be allowed to do it without my permission (even if I -did- refuse to do so). Schools can take action in other ways: suspension, detention, expulsion, exclusion from sports and activities. Those things are a school's prerogative. I have no problem with spanking. Don't tell Hillary, but I even spank my own children But that's for me to decide -- NOT the school.

[RustyAngeL]

I can remember one day at lunch my best friend Cindy and I were chasing each other. We ran into the bathroom. She ran into one of the stalls and slammed the door it fell off the hinges. In the next stall was a teacher. We were taken to the Vice Principles office. Mr Higgenbothem's He scared us senseless. We had to call our mom. Cindys mom didn't' work but mine did. I called my mom at work told her what happened. She was more upset that we were made to call then she was about the door. Since I was never in trouble nothing happened to either one of us. However we never did it again. Lesson learned.

[Kabowd]

I think a HUGE problem with my generation (those who are teens and 20's) is that there is very little accountability and a major lack of discipline. I think that schools should call the parents up there to administer the discipline, but they should also have the authority to discipline them themselves if a parent is unwilling or unavailable. Kids have to know that those in authority over them have that authority for a reason, and that with that authority comes the power to act. It's like when I go to babysit but the parents don't allow me to spank or discipline their kids at all. The kids that know this are usually AWFUL because they know I can't do anything to them. When I was growing up (and even to this day), if anyone ever has to discipline me (or even get onto me) for any reason I get in trouble at home too and then punished for behaving in such a way that someone else had to intervene. I used to think it was just because I'd been an embarrassment...lol (which may still be a part of it maybe?) but I think it's probably moreso an effort to teach obedience at all times in all places, since some kids learn to obey at home but then act terrible everywhere else..lol.

[LossForWords]

As a teacher in a public school that teaches children from Child Development to 5th grade, you tend to see it all. I think it would do a world of good to bring the paddle back into school. Kids today have no idea what it means to be respectful and appropriate...and they KNOW you as a teacher can do nothing about their misbehavior...

Actually...I think children CAN still be paddled in school, as long as parents know that corporal punishment is still used in the school and as long as there is a witness. However, I doubt there are many schools in today's society that still use this form of punishment because of the fear of lawsuits.

It seems like kids just keep getting worse and worse...and they're being diagnosed with crazy disorders that could so be corrected if they knew there were consequences for their behavior.

[Marnie]

I absolutely believe in corporal punishment, however, the Biblical admonition to "spare the rod, spoil the child" (Proverbs 13:24) is addressed to parents, not teachers. I don't believe I would want a teacher laying a finger on my child unless I really, really knew the teacher well and they got my consent at that moment, a signed consent form at the beginning of the school year wouldn't be enough for me. There are other types of corporal punishment, like withholding certain privileges and the like.