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Spanking used in most Mississippi school districts
Published Friday, October 23, 2009
JACKSON (AP) — Mike Kent and John Jordan said they each got their share of whacks with a paddle when they were children.
‘‘It embarrassed me because back in those days, they paddled you in front of the whole class,’’ said Jordan, interim state superintendent of education. ‘‘They could really burn it on you.’’
‘‘It was brutal,’’ Kent, superintendent of Madison County Schools, said with a chuckle. He noted that paddles used then, in the 1960s, were much longer than the ones used today.
The punishment got his attention and left no lasting scars, Kent said.
Kent still favors paddling. Jordan doesn’t. The men represent opposing sides of the debate over corporal punishment.
As superintendent of Oxford public schools in 1994, Jordan worked with the school board to end corporal punishment in the district. Kent’s district, like many statewide, practices corporal punishment.
Mississippi has one of the nation’s highest rates of corporal punishment.
During the 2008-09 school year, there were 57,953 cases of corporal punishment in 110 of the state’s 152 school districts, according to the state Department of Education. The number of incidents is a slight drop from 58,343 cases reported a year earlier but higher than the 47,727 cases reported in 2006-07.
Corporal punishment is ‘‘simply a tool in the toolbox,’’ Kent said. ‘‘We can call parents, we can fuss at kids, we can detain them, we can suspend them, we can put them in ... detention, and we can paddle them.’’
Students are paddled for flagrant disrespect toward any one person, Kent said. Paddling could be a punishment for horseplay, tardiness and skipping class, he said.
In most school districts, more serious offenses — such as fighting — have stiffer consequences. Other punishments, including suspension or detention, are often used instead of corporal punishment.
School districts restrict the number of times a child can be hit and the size of the paddle used. Generally, students are hit about three times. Many district policies require an adult to witness the punishment.
In Madison County, at least one of the adults involved in the punishment has to be the same race as the child and another adult has to be of a different race, Kent said. Otherwise, the door is open for ‘‘potential outlandish charges or for speculation,’’ he said.
Parents can ask that their children not be paddled. For instance, this school year in DeSoto County, 2,505 parents sent letters to their schools asking that their children not be paddled, district spokeswoman Katherine Nelson said. Another 2,109 parents asked school administrators to call them beforehand.
Kent, in Madison County, said even if a parent agrees to let the child be paddled, the child can still object to being paddled.
‘‘We’re not going to wrestle with anybody,’’ he said.
Jordan said he doesn’t believe corporal punishment is the best form of discipline. But there’s also a downside to ending the practice.
Alternatives to corporal punishment usually involve taking students out of a learning environment and sending them home, Jordan said.
‘‘Out-of-school suspensions greatly escalated in the three to four years after we (Oxford public schools) disallowed the use of corporal punishment in our district,’’ he said.
One effective way of punishing students is to remove them from the classroom and give them Saturday detention, he said. It’s also best to establish a climate where students, principals and teachers respect each other, he added.
Parents should review school discipline plans in the handbooks given to students each year, said Nsombi Lambright, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi. Parents also should review state law to ensure the school discipline plans apply. If not, the concerns should be taken to the district’s school board, she said.
‘‘Corporal punishment is not a scientifically based process,’’ Lambright said. There is no study that shows the physical punishment is effective, she said.
Each year, the Mississippi ACLU gets 20 to 30 calls from parents — most often in north Mississippi and the Delta or in the southern half of the state — concerned about how their children were punished at school, Lambright said.
Those parents usually believe the punishment went too far because the child was injured or bruised. Some parents call when they have asked school leaders to call before paddling the child or not to use corporal punishment, but it’s done anyway.
Comments
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 1:31 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by SableSkye (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can hardly call a lick with a paddle corporal punishment. You don't need a study to show if it's effective, I'll vouch for it and say YES it is. When I got spanked I did everything I thought was right, to not get it a 2nd time.
Unless we're talking about children with special issues, spanking drives the point home, and kids will behave.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 24, 2009 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LOVESNATCHEZ, you sound like you are from my clan. I was always told that if I got in trouble at school I was gonna get it again at home.
But nowadays, if a kid gets in trouble at school it is because the teacher is white and doesn't like black kids. Or, its because the teacher is black and doesn't like white kids. Or its because the teacher is simply mean. I could go on, but just thinking about all the gullible parents makes me sick.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember as a child their was no corporal punishment allowed in schools by state law, I raised 9 children and their was no corporal punishment allowed.
This is a draconian way to punish children and with all the strings attached it should be outlawed. This is 2010 not the 1800's parents need to be responsible for their children, their are other ways to shame and embarrass and teach than using a paddle.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2008, I agree with you completely. To have professional educators being put in the position of having to beat the unruly children of fellow citizens is way out of line. In this modern age we have many options available to us that are so much more humane and civilized. I personally like the idea of using a human variation of those shock collars they put on dogs. That would greatly reduce the time currently used for discipline by providing an immediate noxious stimuli that would correct improper behaviour as soon as necessary.
:)
Posted by snowgarden (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh whine whine whine. I am only 25 years old and we got paddled. Don't give me this "we need an environment where kids and teachers respect each other" bull. HAVE YOU BEEN IN THESE CLASSES? Kids today are NOT the kids that we were, or any generation before me. THEY HAVE NO RESPECT. For themselves or anyone else. I was under the impression that "corporal punishment" was out everywhere and I'm very glad to see that some people still have the common sense to know that if you put the fear of God into a kid, then they'll start acting right.
DON'T blame the teachers for these little hellions' behavior. It's the parents (who are using the schools for free daycare) and the system that tried to give us the impression that KIDS had the mental capasity to think as rationally as an adult.
Give me a paddle. There are some kids in Adams County and Concordia Parish that need their little butts whipped.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
snowgarden, I absolutely do not believe in permissive upbringing of children. Too many parents try and treat their children like friends instead of disciplining them.
I would never blame the teachers, the fault lies with the parents. However, that being said the paddle does not belong in school, their are other ways to punish in a school situation, at home I always found the fly swatter worked best.
None of the 9 children I raised ever had disciplinary problems at school maybe it just takes a "hands on parent" to do the job!
When you are my age and have raised children through the trial and error's all parents make then come back and see where you stand. At 25 you’re barely wet behind the ears and have a lot to learn about raising children, learning is good you improve with age. Too many young people are having children and don't have a clue how to teach respect for grown-ups, or discipline without screaming and hitting.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do not think most of the people that get paddled go bad because of it.
On the other hand it sends signals to the kid that whoever is in a position to do it can hurt folks to get their attention.
I, too, believe there are much better alternatives. As one of the nation's most frequent paddling states we should face the fact we are also doing one of the poorest jobs of educating children.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
spank em MORE!!! NO whoop em good
like my grand daddy used to say "Boy, I'm gonna whoop you till you're GLAD I quit!!"
these days parents/teachers call a spanking a couple of pats on the butt, that don't even hurt, you're not supposed to spank a kid just for any little thing, in my mind spanking should be for direct disobedience or intentional disrespect, but when you dish out a spanking - It should be remembered......plus it's good excercise too!
I'm glad to see spanking on the way back.
Is spanking allowed/practiced at NHS?
Oh, let me tell you, I know a young parent that upon having children announced "I'll never spank my children, my little angels will do just what I tell them" Yeah RIGHT !!! Well when the little hellion started swinging on the cabinet doors in the kitchen and tore one slap off the wall, the SPANKINGS began with enthusiasm!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on October 26, 2009 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
and the comment above about raising 9 kids, never spanking any of them, and never having a discipline problem,
I don't believe it for a second.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers......where did you learn how to read, if you learned here in Natchez it figures.
Re-read......used a fly swatter on the kids behind, they were definately disiplined at home, therefore they did not get into trouble at school.
"None of the 9 children I raised ever had disciplinary problems AT SCHOOL maybe it just takes a "hands on parent" to do the job".
Posted by 3on23 (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I got paddled at school it was a walk in the park compared to the spanking I got at home, not to mention the shame of having to face my Grandmother eventually. She could make you feel lower than an earthworm's belly without ever raising her voice or hand.
Did I grow up with my psyche warped due to being paddled at school or spanked at home?
No, I grew up to be a productive citizen of the community who has worked since age 15, I have never been in trouble with the law and I know how to respect others as well as myself.
I used to work in the school system and can agree that these kids as early as age 3-4 will cuss and spit at you and tell you that you can't do anything about it. They also threaten their parent's that they will call DHS if they touch them.
Is paddling needed for every child? No, but in some cases it is the perfect punishment to get their attention.
Posted by dmackZuluking (anonymous) on October 27, 2009 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Paddling can be a necessary evil for the lack of discipline, respect and love of self & others. When a child is in school, they are only individuals on the test. But, when with others @ school they are as one-CLASS. When class rules are broken, your rights an a individuals are mute. THAT'S just one man's opinion ; )
Posted by happyreader (anonymous) on October 28, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I got my butt smacked a few times when I was a kid. As my hindquarters were smarting, I quickly learned some things: 1. There is such a thing as authority, and I am usually not it, and 2. Actions have consequences. I am very thankful that my parents taught me those lessons, which LOTS of children today don't get.
You know, the "experts" can never seem to keep their stories straight. (Remember when coffee was supposed to be bad for you? Then it was supposed to prevent Alzheimers? And now it's neither good nor bad for you...? The same goes for eggs, soy, etc. LOL) I find it interesting that parents successfully raised happy, healthy, productive, law-abiding children for hundreds of years with corporal punishment documented as one of their multiple parenting tools. But now, some have decided that it turns kids into angry little criminals who will spend the rest of their lives in therapy. Please. I say look at previous generations who did a good job raising their children and learn from them.
I will say this, though... I'm not so sure that paddling in the schools is a great idea. It just opens the door to lawsuits. It's not worth it. What schools could do for an effective punishment is make kids scrub floors, take out trash, etc., but I'm sure someone would howl that the little darlings' civil rights were somehow being violated.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on October 29, 2009 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT "weenie" removed my comment???
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on October 30, 2009 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Children need love and occasionally corporal punishment. I certainly received my share of both, still love my parents and harbor no animosity toward teachers that paddled me in grade school and high school (I was a slow learner...). This is not rocket science, and those that despise the wisdom of 30 centuries - "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes" Proverbs 13:24 - don't have the sense God gave a turnip, when it comes to raising children. Some children don't need much corporal punishment, others do. I spanked my children when they needed it too; didn't enjoy it, but didn't shirk my responsibility as a parent either. As others have pointed out, it seems kind of coincidental that when we stopped spanking them, they started back-talking adults and doing as THEY pleased. This is why behavioral problems are so prevalent today. If you want a book on child-rearing, blow the dust off of that old text in the corner, the one entitled "Holy Bible"; it worked pretty well for young George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams...
Posted by dave07deuce07 (anonymous) on October 31, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WE ALL KNOW WHAT A TEACHER'S JOB CONSIST OF ; (TEACHING ). THEY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO RAISE KIDS . KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY IS FALLING BEHIND , NOT BECAUSE OF THE TEACHERS ; BUT BECAUSE OF THE PARENTS . I DO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE SOME PARENTS THAT CAN'T DO ANY BETTER ; BUT FOR THOSE THAT CAN ; THE SPANKING SHOULD START THERE .
Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on November 1, 2009 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GBH You should have a paddle taken to your A..!!
Spare the rod spoil the child. It worked on me. There is nothing that will get a kid's attention faster than that loud swat and the certain sting on the backside soon after!
Posted by frostyw47 (anonymous) on November 3, 2009 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I got spanked one time in 4th grade. And i did not want that again. I mean 2 little swats. To me that said when at school, do what the rules say. My husband and i both feel, you misbehave at school, a pop on the rear is not going to kill you. Just makes you think twice about not doing it again. I feel the children would have more respect for teachers, if they did.
Posted by snowgarden (anonymous) on November 4, 2009 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2008, yes I am young, but I'm not some drug abusing, fly by night, pick up any guy I meet in a bar parent. I CERTAINLY hope that you didn't mean to insinuate such, as your post made it seem. How old were you when you started on your NINE children? Giving the octomom a run for her money, I suppose.
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