1. HITTING CHILDREN IS LEGAL:
A closer look at corporal punishment in U.S. schools, especially the North Carolina HB 853 and SB 874

2. A true story…
A 12-year-old schoolboy was punished for misbehavior. A male teacher, about twice the child's size struck him five times on the buttocks with a wooden board. That afternoon, in response to an urgent call from the boy's sister, the mother left work and rushed home to find out what had happened to her son. She was horrified and outraged by appearance of the massive bruises he had sustained. She took him to the E.R. where he was treated and his injuries documented. Police were notified and took numerous photos. The mother also went to the school and showed the principal, the guidance counselor and the teacher who inflicted the punishment the effects of their discipline policy on her son's body. We are not describing an event that took place in the distant past or in some remote, backward region of the globe. This happened on September 12, 2005, in Rowland Middle School, Robeson County, North Carolina ("Ban the Paddle:," 2007).

3. Corporal Punishment in schools is allowed in 23 States
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Mississippi
Missouri
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island*
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Wyoming
*banned by every school board in the state
(Family Education Network, )

4. Largely a Southern Phenomenon…
“School spanking is these days largely a Southern phenomenon. It’s safe to say that corporal punishment is centered in the old Confederacy and walks a narrowing path.”
North Carolina allows paddling, but at a rate far lower than the “paddling powerhouses” of Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas, and Mississippi ("Paddle Policy: A Push," 2007)

5. It seems unreal in 2007…
In North Carolina, the following people are allowed to smack someone on the buttocks as part of their job:
Prostitutes
Porn stars
Educators
(Riak, 2007)

6. In the most recent legislative session ( ) in North Carolina, House Bill 853 and Senate Bill 874 were given consideration, but failed to pass

7. North Carolina House Bill 853
The bill is referred to as “Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools”
The intent of the bill is to prohibit the use or threat of corporal punishment
It is recommended that expulsion or suspension be considered instead of corporal punishment in disciplining a student
School personnel would be able to continue to use reasonable force in the following situations:
If a student was threatening injury to others
If a student possessed a weapon or other dangerous object
In self-defense
For the protection of persons or property
To maintain order on school grounds, in the classroom, or at a school activity
(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)

8. North Carolina Senate Bill 874
Differences between the house and senate versions
both bills state “Local boards of education shall adopt policies that prohibit both the administration of corporal punishment and the threat of corporal punishment,” but it is more prominently presented at the beginning of the house bill
The house bill also includes a section where G.S. G-21.4 is repealed (Allowance of counsel fees and costs in certain cases involving principals or teachers. In any civil action brought against a public school principal or teacher as defined in G.S. 115C‑390 arising or resulting from the use of corporal punishment, upon a determination that the principal or teacher has prevailed and that the plaintiff's action was frivolous or without substantial merit, the presiding judge may, in his discretion, allow a reasonable attorney fee to the duly licensed attorney representing the principal or teacher. The attorney's fee shall be taxed as part of the court costs)
(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)

9. North Carolina Senate Bill 874 Continued
The house bill also includes the following statement: “The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. Section 2 (G.S is repealed) of this act does not apply to civil actions arising from the use of corporal punishment prior to the effective date of this act.”
It is important to note that the Senate Bill 874 did not make it out of committee
(A Bill to Be Entitled an Act to Prohibit the Use of Corporal Punishment in the Public Schools, 2007)

10. Reasons behind proposed policy
Currently, 68 of North Carolina’s school districts allow corporal punishment, while 47 have banned it at the local level
North Carolina is known across the country for its programs that encourage positive youth development
In this case the state is far behind and there are North Carolinians who support the use of corporal punishment in schools
The North Carolina Family Council says hitting children can be effective when applied in a caring manner

11. Other supporters of Corporal Punishment
The N.C. School Boards Association claims parents are desperate to get their children into a school that allows administrators to administer corporal punishment
A Representative who says the bill is one step away from the state coming into your home to tell you that you cannot spank your own children
Another Representative who claims, “I know I was a tough problem to handle in school as it was. I had one teacher that I told him later I think he whipped me like a rented mule. But I truly believe I would have served time in prison had I not had the discipline that I had in school” (Fuquay, 2007).

12. Politicians against a ban on CP
Yet another Representative states, “I’m not going to say I’m a victim of corporal punishment. I would say very clearly that I am a beneficiary of corporal punishment” (Fuquay, 2007).
The aforementioned people may not support corporal punishment, but they want to allow it to continue in North Carolina
They want to put the decision in the hands of the local school boards and the administrators of said schools

13. Support for the ban on Corporal Punishment in N.C. Schools
A petition by North Carolinians that covers six single-spaced pages – one name on each line, means there are some who believe this is wrong
An article that exclaims this is barbaric
Research shows that paddling results in injury
Often minorities, poor children, students with disabilities, and boys are the recipients of corporal punishment
The same children are punished over
and over

14. Ban Corporal Punishment?!
Every industrialized nation in the world except Canada and the United States has banned corporal punishment in schools
Corporal punishment is allowed in North Carolina schools, but not allowed in prisons, jails, detention centers, day cares, group homes, foster homes, and other institutions
Corporal punishment has been allowed in North Carolina since 1955, but the public claims that students keep getting worse and worse, so logically, it is not working

15. Bullying Banned Beating Allowed
Also taken into consideration this legislative session was a bill to stop bullying in North Carolina schools
Just before rejecting the corporal punishment ban, the house voted to require school boards to adopt bullying policies – paying particular attention to groups who are often victimized the most (Kane, 2007)
The N.C. House of Representatives expressed its distaste for bullying, but they do not seem to mind allowing teachers or administrators the option of picking up a wooden plank and hitting students
There is zero tolerance for bullying in North Carolina, but a teacher is allowed to walk around with a wooden paddle

16. How does CP Affect Youth Development?

17. Corporal Punishment Myths
Corporal punishment is time efficient
The effect of corporal punishment increases with its use
Corporal punishment attacks the problem head on
All students dislike corporal punishment
Educators only use corporal punishment for the benefit of their students
Corporal punishment is a way of punishing only those students who misbehave
Corporal punishment prepares students to live in a society that punishes those who break the rules
Corporal punishment deters aggression in students
Corporal punishment leads to the development of character
Corporal punishment teaches respect

18. More Myths
Corporal punishment is the only thing some students understand
Without corporal punishment behavioral problems increase
Corporal punishment is used only as a last resort
Corporal punishment is necessary for the protection of educators
Corporal punishment works better than other disciplinary methods
Corporal punishment is harmless
Corporal punishment is rarely used
If educators don’t use corporal punishment, then they will verbally abuse a student
Corporal punishment is needed as a last resort
Corporal punishment is used only for serious problems (Gaffney, 1997)

19. Derailed sexual development
According to a letter written to N.C. Legislators by Jordan Riak, the Executive Director of Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE), “Medical Science has long recognized, and documented in great detail, how being struck on the buttocks can stimulate sexual feelings. Children of school age are especially susceptible. The tragic consequence for some who are subjected to this kind of maltreatment is that they form a connection between pain, humiliation and sexual arousal that endures for the rest of their lives” (2007).

20. Violence
The message corporal punishment sends to students is that violence is an acceptable response to conflict
Children should not be subject to violence in schools from adults or classmates
In states where spanking is allowed violent crime rates are higher
Teaches children that they can get their way through violence

21. An administrator at a Texas high school explains, “our five year experiment is evidence that discipline can be maintained without resorting to physical violence against a student. Eliminating corporal punishment has resulted in healthier and happier children” (Richardson & Evans, 1992).

22. In the words of one student…
I’M ENDANGERED SO THEY SAY
Hear my story hear my plight My condition’s quite a fright I’m endangered, so they say My self-esteem has gone astray To discipline me, I am hit Deep inside me, my rage is lit So I fight back, you bet I do I model violence shown by you I’m surrounded with despair I’m shown neglect instead of care I need someone to emulate To help me love and not to hate To show me how, to take my hand To teach me right, to understand I do not want to land in jail I must succeed, I will not fail
Show me kindness instead of scorn
With contempt I was not born
Reach out and touch my very soul
Reach out and help destroy this role
That I am playing on life’s stage
Filled with violence, filled with rage
Help me out when I rebel
I am going through such hell
There is hope for I can learn
To be productive and to learn
I can be part of this society
If you would just have faith in me
In your hands you hold my fate
Help me out, it’s not too late
Rita C. Richardson

23. According to student teachers...
Causes students to become rebellious
Does not provide a positive learning environment
Could be abused by teachers or administrators
Could lead children to believe violence is acceptable, meaningful, and/or legitimate means by which to solve problems
Could cause emotional/physical harm to children
Present legal problems for those who administer the punishment
Only changes behavior or attitudes short term (Diamantes, 1994)

24. Psychological Effects of CP
Negatively affects self-concept
Increased anxiety and fear
Feelings of helplessness and humiliation
Stifled relationships with others
Aggression and destruction at home and at school
Temporarily suppresses negative behavior, but does not teach new behavior

25. Social Capital and CP
States that allow school corporal punishment have significantly lower levels of social capital
As the rate of corporal punishment increases , social capital decreases
The level of support for corporal punishment (either at home or school) in the community is directly related to the rate of school corporal punishment in the community
The disproportionate application of school corporal punishment to African American students is associated with low levels of social capital

26. More correlation between CP and Social Capital
“Not only must we eschew corporal punishment, but all kinds of punishment that might injure the child’s health must be forbidden”
“The more hitting of children that is permitted in the schools of a state, the higher that state’s murder rate”
The public’s general attitudes toward corporal punishment may be translated into policy allowing or encouraging corporal punishment in schools
Reducing corporal punishment could be a difficult challenge in the absence of legislation, a long-term strategy may be required (Owen, 2005)

27. CP’s Impact on Youth Development and the Future
The majority of research associated with the use of corporal punishment has presented this type of discipline in a negative light
CP is associated with future anti-social behavior
Children learn that violence is an acceptable way to deal with interpersonal differences
Violent strategies are modeled and added the child’s behavioral repertoire
If children experience pain, they are likely to
inflict pain on others

28. CP’s Affect on the Future
Corporal Punishment teaches aggressive behavior and control
Corporal Punishment hinders the development of important problem-solving skills
Children who experience Corporal Punishment are more likely to engage in physical and verbal aggression with their spouses
Children who experience Corporal Punishment are less likely as adults to be able to take a spouses’ perspective in arguments
Corporal Punishment plays a role in the development of depression, domestic violence, suicide, child abuse, infant homicide, delinquency, school violence, bondage and masochistic sex, alienation, alcohol abuse, and spousal abuse (Webb, 2007)

29. Hitting Children is Legal
Although hitting children is still legal in the state of North Carolina, there are several states who have enacted policies against corporal punishment as a disciplinary measure in school
Research shows the states that have outlawed corporal punishment in schools have made a smart choice
As indicated by research, allowing corporal punishment to continue in schools inhibits youth development
Youth who are victims of corporal punishment in schools are more likely to exhibit violence in the future

30. Policy can change the future for our children…

31. References
Ban the paddle: N.C. lawmakers should prohibit corporal punishment [Editorial].
(2007, March 23). The Charlotte Observer, pp Retrieved
November 14, 2007, from
A bill to be entitled an act to prohibit the use of corporal punishment in the
public schools, S. 874, Leg., Regular Session (N.C. 2007), 7&BillID=S874.
A bill to be entitled an act to prohibit the use of corporal punishment in the public schools, H.R. 853, Leg., Regular Session (N.C ), n=2007&BillID=H853.
Burton, V. (2007, August 22). Corporal punishment teaches children the wrong lesson. Nursing Standard, 21(50), 33. Retrieved November 16, 2007, from ERIC database.

32. Chenoweth, T. , & Just, H. (2000, August)
Chenoweth, T., & Just, H. (2000, August). Corporal punishment: Does it hinder the development of children? (Monograph). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) Retrieved November 17, 2007, from ERIC database.
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33. Fuquay, J. (2007, May 24). House denies spanking measure. Fayetteville
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Gaffney, P. V. (1997, May). A study of preservice teachers’ beliefs about various issues and myths regarding the use of scholastic corporal punishment. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) Retrieved November 16, 2007, from ERIC database.
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34. Paddle policy: A push to ban corporal punishment in public schools deserves high marks. It’s time the state stopped spanking students [Editorial]. (2007, March 19). News & Observer, pp Retrieved November 14, 2007, from
Riak, J. (2007, March 15). HB 853 to prohibit the use of corporal punishment in North Carolina public schools and PTAVE’s letter to North Carolina Legislators. In Nospank.net. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE) Web site: htm
Richardson, R. C., & Evans, E. T. (1992, June). African-American males: Endangered species and the most paddled. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) Retrieved November 17, 2007, from ERIC database.
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Webb, P. (2007). Spare the rod, destroy the child: Examining speculative       association of corporal punishment and deviant behavior among youth. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED ) Retrieved November 14, 2007, from ERIC database.

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