The Case Against Corporal Punishment

The Case Against Corporal Punishment

As the crime rate in our country grows, teaching our children right from wrong is one of the most important tasks facing educators. At some point or another, this task will require some sort of disciplinary action. In years past, schools used corporal punishment to discipline children. Connie Paige reports that, “According to U.S. Department of Education statistics, more than 600,000students were struck by teachers in public schools in 1990.” Studies show that in today’s society, corporal punishment does more harm than good here in the United States.

Many states have recognized the problems associated with corporal punishment and have begun to phase it out of their system. Still, many states especially those in the South, hold on to this outdated form of discipline. Research, coupled with the opinions of most health care professionals, indicate that there is a problem. Corporal punishment is not an effective form of discipline in schools.

One of the major complaints against corporal punishment is that many educators misuse it. Discrimination is a key problem in the use of corporal punishment. According to Kreck, “Research has shown that boys are hit more often than girls; disabled students are hit more often than students who aren't handicapped. Minority kids are hit more often than Anglo students.” In fact, black children are three times likely to be paddled than white children (Paige, 26). Corporal punishment can also be implemented to an abusive level. There is a fine line between corporal punishment and abuse. No one can agree on when corporal punishment begins to become abuse (Pride, 8). All states have rules that are supposed to regulate corporal punishment but in many cases these ...

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...s combined with the costs associated with trying these cases in court are becoming an unnecessary strain for the American taxpayer.

Corporal punishment’s usefulness in the American school system has become obsolete. Christine Mercure reports that by using alternative disciplinary actions such as recognition, rewards, parent reinforcement, ISS, and service work, schools are achieving better results without the problems associated with corporal punishment. Still, with all the research and professional testimony condemning corporal punishment, many states continue to allow their students to use corporal punishment. According to Pride, only 23 states have bans on corporal punishment. In light of the stubbornness of some lawmakers and educators to examine the facts pertaining to corporal punishment, one might wonder if they might not be in need of a swat on the butt!