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Kennett, Missouri ~ Friday, July 4, 2008
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Time Out- "To Spank or not to Spank..."
Posted Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at 3:41 PM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
According to a poll I recently reviewed through ABC News (abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/spanking_poll021108.html), the public by a 2-1 margin approves of spanking children in principle, and half of parents say they sometimes do it to their own kids. In general, of those parents polled, 65 percent said yes to spanking while 31 percent said "No Way!" Interestingly enough, however, according to the same poll, an overwhelming majority of those polled disapprove of corporal punishment in school, with only 26 percent of those asked reporting that they think a teacher or administrator should be able to spank or paddle a child. I know where I stand on this issue but was curious to know what our readers think. When it comes to parenting my two boys, I prefer to use positive reinforcement or other means of discipline. I did learn not long ago that not everyone thinks like I do, including our public school system. I am not suggesting that Kennett Public Schools encourages spanking or paddling by any means, however, some parents may find it interesting to know that all students in the public school system are subject to the same forms of discipline which may include spanking or paddling... even a pre-school student. My son, who is enrolled at the preschool level, has his moments. His behavior could certainly use some improvement, as he has been spoken to before by his teacher, aide, and other school staff for not following instructions. Not long ago, he came home from school and informed us that he had been in trouble for not listening and staying in the line at school. He also said that he and another kid in his class got into trouble for play fighting in the line. He then told us that the principal of his preschool warned him that if he got into trouble again she would paddle him. (Right? Teach a kid not to use physical contact to resolve an issue by using physical contact to resolve an issue! Makes sense, no? Ha!) Anyway, being that both of my children are under the age of five, I never imagined that paddling would be considered as an appropriate form of discipline just yet, so the thought of signing a no-paddle list had not crossed my mind. After discussing the matter with pre-school administration I learned differently. Though the school uses this form of discipline as a last resort, they still reserve the right to paddle your child, preschooler or high school senior. Needless to say, I had our name added to the list of other parents in the community who don't agree with this ordinance. What do you think? Do you spank or paddle your child at home? Do you approve of corporal punishment at school, and if so starting at what age level? Have you been made aware that you have the right to sign a no-paddle list for your child at each campus that he or she attends? Comments Showing most recent comments first [Show in chronological order instead] |
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Oh someone just told me thats not what Jesus would do... did he not chase the money changers and others out of the Church?
Have you noticed that since Parents and school for the last 30yrs have stopped paddling kids that things have steadly gotten worse in this country. Now we use to have a fight or two at school, but not as many as today. No one is responsible for their own actions. If I did something at school to get a paddling, I'd have another one when I got home. I spanked my son when he was young and he was not damaged from it, and he didn't turn out to be a brat or cause trouble at school or be a public trouble maker and end up in jail. When a parent won't correct their child they set them up not to be able to handle adult life and know that there are rules you have to follow and that there are consequences for their actions, and I blame the parents alot for the way the kids turn out... and I won't go one too long about what I call the 1,2,3- parents... when the kid is doing wrong they start with...1....2......3.... counting out loud thinking the kid will stop... but that just lets the kid know how long they have to finish what they started. Bible say's "spare the rod, spoil the child" sounds like good advice, unless the Bible is wrong.
Here is more interesting info regarding the issue per corpun.com:
States allowing paddling
More than 340,000 students nationwide were disciplined under corporal punishment policies during the 1999-2000 school year, the most recent year for which data are available. Indiana is among 22 states that allow student spankings.
States allowing paddling and number of students paddled in 1999-2000:
* Alabama: 39,197
* Arizona: 632
* Arkansas: 40,437
* Colorado: 260
* Florida: 11,405
* Georgia: 25,189
* Idaho: 23
* Indiana: 2,221
* Kansas: 99
* Kentucky: 2,797
* Louisiana: 18,672
* Mississippi: 48,627
* Missouri: 9,223
* New Mexico: 2,205
* North Carolina: 5,717
* Ohio: 1,085
* Oklahoma: 17,764
* Pennsylvania*: 407
* South Carolina: 3,631
* Tennessee: 38,373
* Texas: 73,994
* Wyoming: 8
*Pennsylvania education officials approved a ban on paddling March 19. It has yet to be approved by state lawmakers.
Source: Center for Effective Discipline
"Corporal punishment is a type of violence of the person. It is a battery. It's a violation of the human spirit. What would Jesus do?"
-- Posted by br549 on Wed, Mar 5, 2008, at 7:11 PM
What would Jesus do you ask? With the frame of mind that this world has the question you pose is almost impossible to answer. A easier question to ask is what DID he do. What he DID do was have perfect unfailing obediance to God. If you would kindly pick up the nearest Bible, sit down and have a systematic, exegetical study of it then you can conclude what He would have done.
Did you notice that most of the states which allow corporal punishment are in the south? Why do you think that is?
Corporal punishment is a type of violence of the person. It is a battery. It's a violation of the human spirit. What would Jesus do?
Funny Story SHS Alumni! Very descriptive as well! I enjoyed reading it.
Sometimes a good paddling can be beneficial, as it teaches one to avoid being caught next time.
These days, I think the kids call it "cuttin' class", or "skipping", but when I was in school, it was called playing hooky. Playing hooky was something I did with regularity, whenever the appeal of fishing or swimming in one of the local ditches became too much too resist, or sometimes I simply feigned illness and stayed home and slept all day. With coaxing and cajoling, I was usually able to get Mom to write an excuse note for me.
On one day after the summer six-week cotton-chopping break, but before the fall six-week cotton-picking break, I and a couple of my truant pals I met on the way to school decided we would play hooky. Our hideout was my house. Mom was at work and we had the place to ourselves, but we quickly became bored, so the house that was originally our safe haven became our prison, and we longed for freedom.
"Let's go to Xxxx's place" (Xxxx's place was a hamburger joint that was next door to Ray Carroll's store, which was located directly across the street from Senath High School), said one of my fellow truant idiots. The other pal agreed with him, but I had a little warning flag go up inside my untutored but survival-oriented brain. I protested, reasoning that it was within easy binocular range of SHS, but the other two goaded me because of my cowardliness. That's all it took. We set off within minutes.
Xxxx's place had a jukebox and pinball machines. I was playing one of the pinball machines, and was winning. The others were talking to a couple of girls, who (believe it or not) had the same hooky idea as us. Before long, I heard someone announce in an authoritative voice: "let's go". I looked up, and saw our diminutive principal, O.L.Hornbeck! That was one of the low points of my life, but slightly ameliorated by the sight of one of my pals, who began running in circles for a couple of seconds, then, rather like a mouse trying to hide in a corner to avoid a cat, foolishly attempted to hide under the pinball machine. It was so comical that for a second, I forgot about our capture and had to laugh. Even O.L.H. got a chuckle out of it, as he ordered him out from under the machine.
My two pals, the girls, and I were marched to O.L.H.'s office, where we were summarily found guilty. Standard punishment for hooky in those days was a paddling. The girls went first. I tried to keep my composure and macho attitude. The girls came out of the office one-by one, with tears streaming down both cheeks, as they sobbed uncontrollably. "Just girl stuff", I semi-convinced myself. Next were my two pals (I assumed O.L.H. was saving the grand finale for me.
Pal #1 came out of the office after I heard three well spaced "whacks" echoing loudly in the school corridor. As he left the office, I noticed that his face was several shades redder that when he went in. He had a concrete smile that could not conceal the agony that he was suffering, thanks to the fire O.L.H. had just ignited in his Levi's, and his eyes were very moist. His gait reminded me of someone whose back end was trying to outrun the rest of his body. Pal #2's exit mimicked Pal #1. By that time, I was starting to lose some of my courage.
My turn came next. I was instructed to bend over the desk. I expect the reason for that was twofold: to keep the unhappy spankee from attempting a last minute retreat, but also to prevent the condemned's back-end from moving forward on impact, thus dissipating some of the energy intended exclusively for the hineykins.
For a little man, O.L.H. could swing a paddle with awesome power! After the first "whack", I understood only too well, why the other unfortunate victims had displayed their exiting demeanor.
Being a somewhat slow learner, my paddling failed to stop my truant ways, but I never, never again played hooky anywhere there was the slightest risk of being caught.
When there is a thorny problem today, the standard government bureaucratic modus operandi at all levels, is to simply throw more money at it. Same with the over all deplorable state of education we now face, money, money, just more money and all will be well. Sadly, the unvarnished truth, student discipline is lacking, at home and in the class rooms, and the kids who need it most, do not get it.
Today there is a remote village in India, school children with a leaky tin roof over their heads, are quietly sitting cross legged on the dirt floor with a slate board and piece of chalk doing their lessons. But, in a few years these same kids will be brought over to America to fill the high tech jobs going begging and unfilled by our own uneducated children being shuffled through the well funded, but failing system today.
I think if you would research the phrase "Spare the rod, spoil the child" you would find that the the word rod meant rules, laws, discipline, or social mores. It is figurative language. It does not mean,literally, a rod or stick or any other OBJECT used to inflict pain. A child must be TAUGHT rules of behavior. A child must be TAUGHT discipline. Discipline does not equal punishment. Discipline does require consequences. When teaching does not work, I understand that punishment is necessary. (Otherwise we would not need prisons.) However, I believe that we as parents and, especially, teachers should invest much more time in teaching, training, allowing and providing consequences BEFORE we dole out punishment.
In regards to your comments including "I personally do not think a parent has the right to place their child on the no swat list..."
Schools and parents should be on the same page, because the fact is that we are all on the same team and share the same goal... which is to educate our youth. There is no power struggle between schools and parents. Parents have the "right" to be involved in ALL aspects of their children's education.
We, as parents and taxpayers, fund our schools, we vote to choose who sits on our boards, we supply these institutions with children to educate. Yes we appreciate every single educator there who molds the minds of our youth, however, our children are still OUR children. We do and should continue to have the right to elect for our children to be administered alternative forms of punishment instead of physical punishments. I never said anything about avoiding punishment for inappropriate behavior altogether.
And by no means have I overstepped my boundaries or not taken responsibility for my child as a parent at home. My children are respectable in my presence for the most part. ( considering they are only 5 and 3 and little kids have momentary meltdowns from time to time)
My chosen approach must be somewhat effective or I would not see the results I see at home. Not once have I had to break out a paddle to get my children to be receptive to different behaviors.
What about the show Nanny 911. That woman seems to be a freak of nature when it comes to making children behave. I have seen children on the show that would make me want to dig an early grave if I had to babysit them. Not once have I seen the nanny recommend spanking the child to get their attention. However, other approaches she takes seems to fair well.
What are your thoughts on this?
Schools are only a mirror image of society. What are parents teacing their kids. I know of an occasion when Ms. Cornado reported against an administrator for not taking action due to a knife brought to school. If parents would TEACH their children how to act in public, then schools would not need to punish kids; however, I resent the kid that disrupts my child when she is in the classroom so the teacher can not teach. If more parents would stand up and say I do not want my child in the room with a behavior problem maybe the parents of the child with behavior problems would have to come to school and monitor behavior. However, I have attended church where kids run everywhere and disrupt the servi ce with parents sitting there. I have been to the movies where you can not hear because kids are acting out so bad and the parents sit there oblivious tio their actions. If paddling is not outlawed, I personally do not think a parent has the right to place their child on the no swat list. Teachers bend over backwards so that child will not be expelled and miss assignments. Maybe the parents should be helop more accountable.When a student gets in trouble at school and the parent decides the punishment, that child think that MOM is going to always be able to get them out of trouble...but what happens when Juvenile getd involved...The child is punished regardless of what the parent thinks. My opinion would be that parents need to face facts...Kids screw up and they should have to face the consequences of their decisions. Let kids run rampant and you get bullying and then a kids gets killed. Like at some of these school shootings.
I remember getting a paddling in school many times my the principal and then when I got home, I got it again from my parents. Did I learn? Yes, I did, I knew that if I did something wrong I would get my butt whipped not once, but twice...
I have mixed emotions about this, In one part of my mind I say yes the school should have permission to paddle your child after time and time again of the child not obeying the rules, because looking at the way there are problems in the school system with drugs and fights as well as illegal weapons on school grounds.
But then I look at it as what if the pricipal is having a bad day and gets a paddle and takes out his anger on some childs behind and leaves bruising and ect,because even principals do have anger issues as well.
But then you have those parents who believe thier child can do no wrong and that they are perfect little angels and that the teachers are just picking on them, the parents believe the child instead of investigating things on their own.
So, in my opinion, if I had kids in school and they were to be get a spanking I would want the school to call me, and I would go up there, get all the information and ask questions myself with the principal, teacher and all that was involved and if I found that the child was in the wrong, yes I would allow the shool to spank them, while I was there only. but never to touch my child unless I was present.
But in the same manner the school needs to back out of the abuse scenerio in teaching our children if someone hits you ( your parents, or anyone) you can call the abuse hotline and report it.
example ( my oldest son was in 2nd grade and I was going to spank him for something he had done, He informed me that his teacher told his class that if I punished him, that he had a number he could call to report me to the dfs for child abuse, I went ahead and spanked him, then I gave him the phone to call the abuse hotline and after that I would show him child abuse. once he seen the photos of kids being abused by their parents he knew that his little spanking with my hand was not abuse, and then I called the school and had a long little talk with them about what they were teaching kids in 2nd grade, that all forms of disipline is not abuse and that they needed to stick with teaching the school itenary instead of this bs.
If the school suspects that a child is being beaten or abused at home they have the right by law to report it, but not tell the child if you get punished you can call the abuse hotline...
If you are a parent who does not want the school to use corporal punishment to discipline your child a letter to the principal is very effective. Copy in the supt's office as well. Just state clearly your expectations regarding discipline to be used or not used for your child. A call home before discipline is issued is effective. I've also know of parents who have instructed their child to request a call home before corporal punishement is administered. Works better for secondary students.
SPARE THE ROD, SPOIL THE CHILD!!! That's what my husband and I truly believe in. No we are not old farts, we are in our late, late 20's. We use spanking as a last resort. As for the school spanking our daughter-NO WAY! If she does something to deserve a paddling, we would go to the school, find out what happened and if need be, we will spank her right then and there. I believe that's why there are kids killing kids and juvenile delinquents, because the message some PARENTS- send out to their kids is that they are UNTOUCHABLE-. My children know how much we love them and we would do anything to protect them, but if taking away privileges and time outs doesn't work, then we do resort to spanking ("CORPORAL PUNISHMENT"). Don't get me wrong, we have 2 wonderful children and it's very rare for them to get spankings. I guess because we do use it only as a last resort.
I am not 100 percent sure of the other campuses, however, I was told by preschool administration there was some sort of list that I could add our names to indicating that we were not okay with corporal punishment :) Who knows?! Perhaps it was the school's list of "parents who bug us." Ha! Only kidding.
My children were on the NO PADDLE list. I was under the impression that there was NO
no paddle list now, but I could be wrong.
I have three children...who may not be perfect but they have turned out pretty darn good.....and I never paddled them. Considering that I did not use physical punishment, I certainly did not think anyone else had the right to.
Thank you downhome! I totally agree with you in regards to your statement that "it's all about finding that one thing that really makes them think, 'hey I don't want this to happen again, I hated the repercussion.'"
That is so true :)
in regards to my statement...these are all things that have somewhat helped with my child. obviously no child is perfect (we all wish)!!! there is certain things that work better for other children. it's all about finding that one thing that really makes them think "hey i don't want this to happen again i hated the reprecussion." i also agree that paddling a preschooler is not the right option and it does show that hitting is the right way ( which it isn't ). it's like when your child bites and what does the majority of the parents do...bite their child back. now with some children this works others...well they're a lifelong biter... :) i do love ur pieces they are very informative and i think you always execute your point to the "T"...
LOL, guess my age is showing, I used the now outdated "Corporeal," but see other's comments using the contemporary "Corporal."
Of course in the army I did know a couple of corporals who were not above dishing out a little corporal punishment on occasion.
in response to the comments that children start to take advantage of being on the no-paddle list... pushing themselves and their teacher to the limit. "they both know that nothing is going to happen."
I was told that if your child is on the no-paddle list then the other alternative consists of suspension or expulsion.
So there is a consequence, and frankly, I would be more afraid of telling my parents I was kicked out of school than I would be hiding the fact that I had been paddled. Being suspended has the potential to effect your grades, test scores, and over-all learning experience as a result of your actions. That is pretty scary considering that is what you are supposed to be there for- an education. My parents would have been furious with me if I had disrupted that because of a bad attitude toward my teachers or class rules.
In the situation I experienced with my preschooler, I asked the principal why my son had been threatened to be paddled. She replied because of his behavior, as reported not by his teacher, but by a substitute that was present that day. I asked if the one incident really warranted a paddling and she said there had been several times prior to that day in which Holden could have listened better and followed the rules.
She also said she really had not planned on paddling him but thought the threat could be used as a scare tactic, although the school did reserve the right to paddle if necessary.
Was it really necessary was the question for me and if so why had I not been made aware of this before? The funny thing is that I was NEVER made aware of any major concerns with my son before then. No notes to mom and dad, no parent teacher conference, and certainly no phone call or correspondence from the principal. I learned all of what took place through five-year-old eyes.
I did receive one note the first week of school from his teacher informing me that he was not sharing with the other children and got into a tug-of-war match with another child over a toy.
I thanked her for the update and addressed the issue with my son. After that I never heard anything else until the day he was told by his principal that he would be spanked for his behavior if he was ever brought to her office again.
When I asked what alternatives were in place outside of paddling since I am against that, the administrator informed me that he could be suspended. Ha! Can you believe that? A preschooler? It's not like he toted a weapon to school or defaced property. Of course I expect him to behave but the punishments in place do not seem appropriate for the crimes committed. Have these educators never heard of time out ... (And I don't mean my blog!).
What about keeping them in for a while during recess, not letting them participate in an extracurricular class or school activity, using more positive reinforcement? I am confused.
For the record, I admire Holden's classroom teacher.
She is a great person who has went beyond my expectations in communicating with us, particularly since the day I walked into the principal's office. She is honest and open to my comments, not defensive and overpowering. She sees both the strengths and weaknesses in my son, as she seems to in the other students in her room and a lot is to be said for that.
However, I do believe the preschool administration could improve in terms of parent/school communication and effectively punishing children in an age-appropriate way. Paddling or even threatening to is not the solution.
During my career as a teacher I have had to witness paddlings. A witness is required during corporal punishment. Up until that point I did believe it was a good type of punishment. But, after I witnessed a 17 year old boy being paddled by a man, I knew it was something I was against!!!!! The experiece completely and totally changed my opinions regarding corporal punishment. I believe in the school setting, it does more harm than good... to the student.
i know with my child...i had signed the no corporal punishment list...but then children start to take advantage of that. pushing themselves and thier teacher to the limit. they both know that nothing is going to happen. i resigned my child on the list without her knowing and when she got her first paddling she was SURPRISED!!!! moral of the story...she learned her lesson and the fact that we were not going to stand for her disobedience. as for the preschoolers...i think some other forms should be taken with them...tell their parents. i know i was scared to death of my parents when i acted up in school...altogether...i think it's just what u let them get away with that determines how far they will push the limits.
Wow! That is really interesting info. I had yet to research how many states have banned corporal punishment.
Also interestingly enough, after researching your suggested link, I began looking further into corporal punishment and could not believe what I ran across while googling the term. At a Web site called www.corpun.com, I read excerpts taken from a story I wrote myself for the DDD a couple of years ago. Apparently the Web site decided to post it along with other articles written by various authors regarding corporal punishment. My story was actually intended to report on a Kennett High School graduation ceremony. However, in it I quoted a KHS graduating senior while she reminisced upon her years in school.
Her quote was listed as "This year, everything we did was our last: Our last homecoming, last season in a sport, last dances, last concerts, last time to choose between a paddling and AEP, and last birthdays at home."
This Web site is using our school district as an example for schools it deems unsatisfactory in issuing acceptable forms of discipline.
How ironic!
Check it out @ www.corpun.com/uss00605.htm
(scroll down on the page until you see the KHS article)
Twenty-two states allow some form of corporal punishment while twenty-eight have banned the practice.
Where the states stand on corporal punishment:
Alabama--Legal
Alaska--Illegal
Arizona--Legal
Arkansas--Legal
California--Illegal
Colorado--Legal
Connecticut--Illegal
Delaware--Illegal
District of Columbia--N/A
Florida--Legal
Georgia--Legal
Hawaii--Illegal
Idaho--Legal
Illinois--Illegal
Indiana--Legal
Iowa--Illegal
Kansas--Legal
Kentucky--Legal
Louisiana--Legal
Maine--Illegal
Maryland--Illegal
Massachusetts--Illegal
Michigan--Illegal
Minnesota--Illegal
Mississippi--Legal
Missouri--Legal
Montana--Illegal
Nebraska--Illegal
Nevada--Illegal
New Hampshire--Illegal
New Jersey--Illegal
New Mexico--Legal
New York--Illegal
North Carolina--Legal
North Dakota--Illegal
Ohio--Legal
Oklahoma--Legal
Oregon--Illegal
Pennsylvania--Legal
Rhode Island--Restricted*
South Carolina--Legal
South Dakota--Illegal
Tennessee--Legal
Texas--Legal
Utah--Illegal
Vermont--Illegal
Virginia--Illegal
Washington--Illegal
West Virginia--Illegal
Wisconsin--Illegal
Wyoming--Legal
Source: http://school.familyeducation.com/classroom-discip...
*You are right, its an issue that most school disticts do not want to tread (states where it is still legal).
Lived there once: I respect your stance. The point I feel like I am trying to make here is that I view paddling as an ineffective tool. For example: Johnny and Billy get into a horrible fist fight during recess because Billy told Johnny that he was terrible at kick ball. Once the fight is broken up, the principal calls the boys into his office, gives them a lecture regarding poor choices and how hitting doesn't solve anything. Then he asks them to place both palms on his desk so that he can give them each three licks with his paddle.
Ok, how does this make sense? What kind of message our we sending our youth? A mixed one that confuses them, in my opinion.
Aside from that, how effective is a paddling anyway? Anyone who has had one, and trust me I have, knows that the God-awful stinging sensation of the first lick is the worst and the pain only lasts for a little while. So does the impression.
I also harbor no resentment toward those who have paddled me in the past. Ask Raymond Lasley, superintendent at Southland Schools. He wore me out back in the day when he was principal at Senath-Hornersville. Now, I work with him frequently covering school board meetings and such. My respect for the man has never been swayed because he paddled me in high school. However, I cannot say that his whipping put me in check. It was a temporary punishment, not a solution.
I overheard a co-worker of mine talking about his kids poor grades the other day. I have a lot of respect for him because after trying different ways of punishing him, including spankings I'm sure, he decided to tell his boy that until the grades came up he could not participate in anything outside of his regular school work. The parent stuck with it and fully enforced it and it worked. Now his kid is making good grades.
A kid will remember that the last time they messed up they lost out on something that really seemed important to them. Kids don't remember a paddling that hurt for five minutes when they are thinking about skipping school or worse.
cbhine: I can relate. After graduating from Senath-Hornersville High School years ago, I moved to Northern Virginia, nearby Washington D.C. While there, some friends and I were discussing our memories of high school and I mentioned that I had gotten into trouble once and was given a paddling by my English teacher. You should have seen the look on their faces. It was priceless! They could not believe what I was telling them. One guy in the group even asked if my parents sued the school. Ha! Of course, my parents would have never done such a thing over that incident but I can understand my Northern friend's concern. Corporal punishment is not heard of in those states and is thought of as an ignorant and abusive form of punishment.
Regardless, I am aware that it still exists here in the Bootheel. Not just in Kennett public schools, but in nearly every school system surrounding us. I just never imagined that paddling a preschooler or threatening to do so is of the norm. Lesson learned!
I do know that each campus issues a policy and procedure handbook to all students and parents at the beginning of each school year. In this manual it explains each of the campus procedures regarding paddling and other forms of discipline. However, I have asked several other preschool parents and never once did we receive anything similar that would have indicated our children could be threatened to be paddled or actually spanked if the teacher or administration saw it fit to do so. That is what troubles me as a parent who does not support this idea.
In my opinion, the preschool could possibly benefit itself by covering this subject during early-enrollment and then again at the beginning of the academic year with a parent/student handbook. It might help to avoid situations in which an angered parent comes to the office outraged that her child was threatened with corporal punishment. Additionally, some parents are not as tolerant as I am or my parents were, there are those parents out there who could potentially consider filing a lawsuit against the school. Just ask my friend in V.A.
Just a thought.
In the late forties-early fifties, I well remember Mr. Masterson making his treks out to Ely school for administering corporeal punishment. The reason I remember so well, was I made the long walk with him to the cloak room more than a couple of times. He utilized a lightweight taped up split barrel stave, neither he not I seemed to get much enjoyment from it all, he had a task to perform, and I certainly deserved getting my buttocks thumped.
To add insult to injury when I got a whipping at school, my tattling siblings ensured I would be cutting a switch for Mother when we got home.
At the time, nor later, have I ever harbored resentment towards those who tanned my behind when it was warranted, I knew better, did wrong anyway, case closed.
I can tell you that in the state of California, corporal punishment is illegal. When my children started to school here and announced to their new friends that corporal punishment was used back home, the kids were stunned.
While my children were in school in Kennett I did sign a no-paddle list, because I personally believe that it should not be used in school. BUT, while my son was in 9th grade (KSD)he was asked by a teacher to move boxes out of her classroom closet to her car and during that time he was chewing gum, which was against her personal classroom rules, he was sent to the office and issued corporal punishment. He did have the option of taking an afternoon detention but that would mean he would miss his swim team practice in Jonesboro, so he took the paddling. I was outraged that a teacher would be so cruel,I actually took more of an issue with the fact that my son was punished by the teacher whom he was helping to begin with. I found no support in the principals office but was told that the teacher was consistant in her enforcement! By the way, the office was not aware of the "no paddling list". I was outradged!! This was the one and only time he was issued corporal punnishment in school.