According to the district’s website, a southwest Missouri school district’s opt-in policy allows corporal punishment when all other alternatives have failed. It is unclear how the district defines “reasonable,” though the school handbook states punishments will only be administered “by swatting buttocks with a paddle.”
In mid-June, the Cassville R-IV School District adopted a policy that defines corporal punishment as using physical force to correct student behavior. The school board voted to allow corporal punishment as a means of correction or to maintain discipline and order in its schools.
A survey sent out to staff, students, and parents in May led to the decision to bring back the old-school punishment, Cassville Superintendent Merlyn Johnson said.
Concerns about student discipline were among the suggestions, Johnson said. Our response was to implement several different strategies, including corporal punishment.
A 2016 study published by the Society for Research in Child Development stated that even though corporal punishment has been out of favor since the 1970s, it was legal in 19 states six years ago, and over 160,000 children were punished with it each year. By a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court decided in 1977 in Ingraham v. Wright that school corporal punishment was constitutional and did not violate the Eighth Amendment.
A 2016 study found that most states still using corporal punishment are located in the Southeast, led by Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. The study found that 5,251 Missouri students received corporal punishment in the 2011-12 school year. The study concluded that children with disabilities, Black children, and boys were disproportionately more likely to receive corporal punishment.
Moreover, according to an article that was published in the Journal of Family Psychology in 2016, a study found that corporal punishment is not an effective strategy wherever it is used. The authors of the meta-analyses found no evidence that spanking improves child behavior but rather that it increases the risk of 13 adverse outcomes. The use of spanking by parents, practitioners who recommend it, and policymakers who allow it might need to reconsider, given that no evidence indicates it is beneficial for children. All evidence suggests that it could be harmful to them.
Nevertheless, the Cassville R-IV School District said parents and guardians who want corporal punishment for their students must submit a form to opt-in to the policy. A parent or guardian must be notified before a student is punished based on the principal’s recommendation.
Punishments can only be administered by “certified personnel” in the presence of district employees. Students cannot be struck on the head or face, and there can be no chance of bodily injury or harm to them. In accordance with the policy, Johnson must receive a report explaining the reason for corporal punishment and details of how it was administered.
Additionally, the policy specifies that staff members may use reasonable physical force to protect students or property.
THIS IS A GREAT POST AND I AGREE 100 % . KIDS OF TODAY HAVE NO RESPECT AND THAT STARTS AT THE HOME , AND I BLAME THE PARENTS . THE PARENTS NEED TO BE HELD LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THERE CHILDREN UNTIL THERE 18 .
Good, glad someone is doing it. Now we need the pledge of allegiance and prayer.
We grew up with corporal discipline, not punishment. Seems like media and others against discipline like to make discipline sound terrible by substituting the word Discipline with Punishment. Parents and decision makers are too lax and let todays children do as they please including being disrespectful to teachers, parents and strangers, all because of the lack of discipline received at home and school. Our parents disciplined us because they loved us and wanted us to grow up with values and good family morals. Today you see and hear kids yell and cuss at parents, teachers, their friends and anyone else they feel like cussing at. Totally out of control because parents don’t care. Parents today reward them with money, gifts and so on, if they behave. It only lasts a short time and then they go back to being themselves again. Parents don’t take accountability for their childrens actions anymore, many instead, defend their childrens language and behavior. Corporal Discipline needs to be brought back, this all started when Corporal Discipline and Dress codes in schools were taken away. Teachers today are also different and should be trained to discipline using corrective measures using discipline and not showing anger. If Corporal Discipline is brought back, it would not allow teachers to treat students like Drill Sargeants. Teachers will treat students with Dignity and respect. Children will respond more in a positive way. Communication and respect goes a long way in Families and in schools.
Love the idea of corporal punishment. Nothing wrong with giving a child an old fashion lesson. Maybe if everyone would do it at home the world won’t be as bad as it is right now. I was very happy when I seen it finally made it back to my kids schools. Hell some parents need it as well.
All for discipline .Old school worked .
Love need more of it
Thank God that Corporal Punishment is alive at Missouri School District a good swatting is good for all students.
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