Parenting

Is Corporal Punishment Legal In Your State?

By ABS Contributor | Published on: May 27, 2012 Comments (0)

In this day and age, spanking is a questionable action even when administered by a frustrated parent to a misbehaving child. However, in 19 states — mostly in the south and mountain west regions — teachers are perfectly entitled by law to spank. What is more startling is that it actually happens to students from preschool age up to high school seniors, according to a report by National Public Radio. Spanking is a largely personal decision for parents and always makes for an uncomfortable discussion since it draws such stark opposition in opinions.

According to the Center for Effective Discipline, the 19 states where spanking remains a legal form of punishment are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming. Some districts within these states have opted out of spanking, and others send home a “permission sheet” with the student for his parent. But other districts, many of which are in rural locations, are wholeheartedly in favor of spanking.

In 2011, democratic state representative Ari Porth sponsored a bill to ban school corporal punishment statewide in Florida, but voters said “Nay.”

“I think the problem with society is we quit paddling,” Florida parent, Bud Glover, told NPR.

“I got my butt beat and I know what’s right and wrong,” Glover said. “And my children are going to know what’s right and wrong.”

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