In today's Fort Worth Star Telegram is an article about paddling students in Texas schools.
We are number one in this also.
If a parent swats a child in public, someone who sees this might call 911 to report child abuse.
Remember it is the law that child or elder abuse must be reported if known.
But Texas public schools allow corporal punishment. Parents have the right to opt out
and inform the school that their children are not to be physically punished.
How many parents even know about this or about being allowed to opt out?
Why is it child abuse to hit a child everywhere but in school? What makes this even worse
is that the disabled and minorities were the majority of paddle hitting victims. One child
was three years old when paddled.
Doesn't paddling send the message that is contrary to non-violent conflict resolution?
How do you feel? Should we send notes to our Texas legislators letting them know we
wish this law was changed?
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5 comments:
I have always had good results from the public schools about corporal punishment. Usually there is a meet the teacher/staff day prior to the school year kicking off and, normally, the policies and procedures are discussed or elaborated on during this meeting. One of the topics discussed is punishment, and, quite frankly, they are very clear about getting it covered due to the litigous citizen. So, should the legislature have control or a voice in this matter? I don't believe so. Allow my legislator to work on other items that are needing to be taken care of. We have enough laws covering abuse already. The technicalities are constantly being worked on.
I personally do not believe in corporal punishment in the schools. The legislators are the ones who passed the law that allows it.
There are other highly effective ways of dealing with students who misbehave.
Thank you for your comments. Please sign your name next time so that I will know who posted.
Professor Segal
The individual will likely receive corporal punishment at home (in private) anyway. At least the school can cut straight to the end result. :)
For kids who get caught fighting or causing classroom disruptions I think that a spanking is better than a citation.
These public schools that have the staff constable write a child or teenager a ticket for being disruptive or for assault are more of a concern to me.
-Jay H
I am not familiar with the citation system. Eons ago when my sons were in school in Connecticut, the principal had a very effective, IMHO, system to deal with disruptive behavior.
First time, child went to see principal and discuss problem. Second time a parent had to appear with child in order for the child to return to class. When a parent had to take time off from a job, it had an enormous effect on future behavior.
Children need to learn that actions have consequences, but corporal punishment is not in my view the answer.
Wish you had signed your name.
Professor Segal
The school system has it backwards. Parents should be able to opt IN for corporal punishment for their own kids, not opt OUT. Corporal punishment should be disallowed by default, and allowed only after the parents give their consent.
As for spanking, as long as it doesn't cross the line into abuse, it is nobody's business, least of all the State, whether I choose to spank my children or not. There are times when a nice sit-down meeting to talk about conflict resolution with my 9 year old is appropriate, but there are other times when a couple of open-handed smacks on the rear-end are just as effective.
Corporal punishment was in effect during my entire academic career in Texas public schools. I was on the business end of a paddle more times than I can count, and I emerged unscarred from the public school system.
I think the touch-feely warm and fuzzy self-esteem centered education system of today is leaving many children ill-prepared for the trials and tribulations of the real world. It's not just corporal punishment. It's refusals by schools to post honor rolls, or the banning of competitive games during recess, or any of a number of other ways in which schools now cater to the least common denominator. It seems to me that schools today are trying to teach our children the ultimate un-truth, that life is fair.
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