A lot of people might remember getting spanked by their teachers or the principal as a way of disciplining the student. However, the practice of corporal punishment was finished in schools nationwide a while ago.
However, there still seem to be some people who see merit in physical punishment…
Schools in the town of Cassville in Missouri have been at the center of a controversy. In a statement that has shocked the nation, Cassville School School District Superintendent Merlyn Johnson told the media that the school district is bringing back corporal punishment.
“Corporal punishment” is a punishment that involves physically hitting someone. In cases of corporal punishment, a teacher or principal would traditionally strike a child on their behind with an open palm or with a paddle traditionally made of wood. However, in recent years, the practice has virtually ended in the entire country but it still remains legal in 19 states.
But according to Superintendent Meryl Johnson, says his district happens to be a “very traditional community in southwest Missouri,” and parents have long been asking him to reinstate corporal punishment in schools.
He said, “parents have said ‘why can’t you paddle my student?’ and we’re like ‘We can’t paddle your student, our policy does not support that. There had been conversation with parents and there had been requests from parents for us to look into it.”
Johnson says his school district ended corporal punishment practices in 2001. And when Johnson became Superintendent of the district, his main intention was never to reinstate corporal punishment, but he is okay with doing so.
The rules for the reinstatement of corporal punishment specify that it will be used as a last resort and that parents can choose to opt-out of this practice.
Johnson said, “We’ve had people actually thank us for it. Surprisingly, those on social media would probably be appalled to hear us say these things but the majority of people that I’ve run into have been supportive.”
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) has done extensive research into the subject and has deemed it to be more harmful than beneficial. According to AACAP’s findings, corporal punishment largely affects boys, students from lower income strata, and minorities.
“Corporal punishment signals to the child that a way to settle interpersonal conflicts is to use physical force and inflict pain,” the AACAP website says. “Such children may in turn resort to such behavior themselves. They may also fail to develop trusting, secure relationships with adults and fail to evolve the necessary skills to settle disputes or wield authority in less violent ways,” it adds.
This is why the AACAP advocates for non-violent disciplinary methods and opposes the legalization of corporal punishment.
However, according to laws in 19 states, it is completely legal and it is up to school districts themselves to decide what they want to do.
What do you think about corporal punishment coming back to schools? Let us know in the comments.
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