Scientific evidence shows that corporal punishment is associated with lower IQ and has NO behavior benefit. Why would anyone aware of this research continue to support this violence against children? Thanks to Representative McCarthy for this legislation.

There is nothing wrong with corporal punishment being initiated in the schools. But the issue is bigger than that. We cannot allow the government to police how or when we discipline our children. Parents who have children in schools where corporal punishment is an option have every opportunity to opt-out of its usage. The other issue is the inability of adults to parent their children and teach them how to act correctly. Schools have enough on them already without having one more tool taken away. Overall the children of today are weak have few morals and no gumption. There are exceptions, but it is a societal problem that will not be corrected by banning corporal punishment in our schools.

Obviously, I do not support corporal punishment if that is what people call it. I call it “corporal abuse” because that’s what it is. This is exactly the same as an adult beating up a helpless child or molesting them. When a child is molested they are hurt physically, mentally, and emotionally. The child can have sexual dysfunctions as well and can be scared of other people. Well, paddling, spanking, or whipping a child can bring the same results as child molestation. This practice in schools is wrong and it should be against the law! I was paddled in school as a child and it did not do any good. The best thing you could do is make a child do something constructive like make them write a paper or give them extra work, or make them pick up trash on school grounds. Or make them clean bathrooms and mop the floors. Yes, when a child does something wrong they need to pay for their wrongful doing, but beating them will not do a world of good… This bill is a great piece of legislation!!

My son was threatened with a belt when he was in Kindergarten in Clute, Texas. I was never notified. He told me. I had to call the school to verify his story. I was disgusted. I had no idea that could happen in a school. I was unaware of the school’s stance on corporal punishment. It was my first experience with public school with my children. I should have known more, but I didn’t. There was no notice given out at the beginning of school.

I now live in Branson, Missouri, and they use a system called Love & Logic. I am grateful to be in a school district that legally could use corporal punishment, but have decided to evolve to a higher understanding of child development.

Please support this bill. Whether you spank your kids at home or not is your private decision, but what happens in a public funded, public school is everyone’s business.

Why not let the parents choose?

@ianiam – my thoughts exactly. As for a parent not knowing what goes on or the policy of a school district. All of the schools in my area send out a handbook with each child. It outlines all of the discipline procedures and the parents option to opt-out of such discipline procedures. I agree with having children do something constructive when they have mis-behaved, but not everyone agrees and the law can be construed to not allow it. Time-out in schools is also a touchy subject.What about those children who totally refuse to do anything and are defiant? Do you just let them be or do you put hands on them and make them do what they have been instructed to do? When adults do wrong, they are fired from their jobs and put into jail if not something worse. Children need to learn that life is not fair nor easy at an early age. How that happens should be up to the PARENTS! and not for the government to take ONE MORE freedom AWAY.

Why do supporters of this idea call it violence on students or a crime? Corporal punishment is a controlled physical punishment that is used only as a last resort by administrators. Many times just the threat of applying this type of punishment is good enough to curtail bad behavior. Why is there no study done on that. Always the negatives are what are glorified. Why is this bill being imposed on us the citizens and thus we are going to be told how to raise our kids. Its bad enough that the increase in bad parenting is not helping society why must schools lose a tool in helping these bad parents educate their kids. Think about this also, if parens don’t want their kids swatted then don’t sign the release form at the beginning of the year. Notice how I said swatted not beaten like the bill would want you to believe. So scratch this bill and don’t tell me how to raise my kids.