Corporal Punishment in School

In a recent controversy concerning corporal punishment in schools, a physical education instructor in Albany, Georgia was recently suspended, but not fired after physically punishing and abusing her student. Surveillance cameras caught Tracy Drayton in the act of dragging a kindergarten pupil across the gymnasium (“Tracy Drayton, Georgia”). This is a prime example of how corporal punishment can result in extreme consequences. Corporal punishment, an outdated and ineffective consequence, should be illegal across the United States.

Corporal punishment, also known as physical punishment, is any rebuking in which physical power is employed and expected to cause some extent of pain or distress to the victim. This can also include beating with any object, especially “belts, cords, and brushes.” Human rights-law also classifies corporal punishment as squeezing, hitting with hands and feet, slapping, yanking, jostling, flicking or pushing with enough power to harm the victim (Stephey 1). These definitions are quite controversial, considering there is no set of guidelines dictating what could cause injury or what qualifies as “too powerful” (“Global Progress”).

There is currently no national ban on corporal punishment in schools. Corporal punishment is illegal on the state level in public schools in 39 states and Washington D.C., with Illinois included. Corporal punishment is illegal in public and private schools in Iowa and New Jersey (“Global Progress”).

Through corporal punishment, children experience an incorrect representation of how the world works. They are taught that violence is the answer to all problems (Rochman). Educators that employ corporal punishment often hit a child for striking their peers. By doing this, the teacher...

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Rochman, Bonnie. "Why Spanking Doesn't Work." 6 February 2012. Time Magazine. 27 February 2013 .

Stephey, M.J. "Corporal Punishment in U.S. Schools." 12 August 2009. Time Magazine. 27 February 2013 .

"Tracy Drayton, Georgia Physical Education Teacher, Suspended But Keeps Job After Slapping Kindergarten Student." 31 October 2012. Huffington Post. 27 February 2013 .

"U.S.: Corporal Punishment and Paddling Statistics by State and Race." 1 July 2010. The Center for Effective Discipline. 27 February 2013 .

Weiten, Wayne. Psychology: Themes and Variations. 8th. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2010.