Comments on: ‘State-sanctioned violence:’ Inside one of the thousands of schools that still paddle students

By: Kim Darby

Kim Darby — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 16:36:03 +0000

This Canadian can’t help but note that it appears to be prevalent in GOP states. I recently read that the same states have the poorest results on national tests and literacy. As a retired high school teacher, I can honestly say I would never have ‘paddled’ a student. Behaviour issues I found usual were the result of external issues. It’s easier to wield a board than to be professional and assist the student.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 23:35:27 +0000

So if a 16-year-old is late to his job at McDonalds, can he manger take him in the back and give him 3 swats with the paddle? Ponder that and ask what’s different in school. Is school some kind of penal or military institution? Well maybe, but we don’t allow whipping in either of those institutions either. I think what we see is barbaric religious “traditions” creeping into our secular education system. We no longer stone adulterers so we should not be beating children. Education should be held to the same standard as every other business.

By: Nikki Amrijo

Nikki Amrijo — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 08:26:37 +0000

I think it’s clear parents need to do a better job with their kids. My state NEW MEXICO barley stopped using paddling in 2011 and I never got paddled. I knew to behave at school or I’d get something worse then a “paddel” at home that’s for sure.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 21:28:14 +0000

Those of us who were spanked at school in the ways described do not usually confuse it with “violence.” That is particularly true if one has ever been unlucky enough to experience actual violence.
The idea that a controlled spanking is child abuse is the epitome of a First World entitlement mentality.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 05:44:01 +0000

I remember my elementary school permission form gave the parents a lot of choice. There was a place to check if you gave permission for the school to spank kids through clothes, in just their underwear, or naked. You could also choose between a paddle or a whip, and give permission for up to 30 swats. My parents gave permission for naked whippings, since that’s what I got at home.

By: Bill McManus

Bill McManus — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 01:06:20 +0000

Spare the rod spoil the child. This should also be done at home like it was back in the day. Kids are out of control today no discipline.

By: Perry Share

Perry Share — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:30:44 +0000

In the civilised world, this would be called child abuse, and the perpetrators would be liable to criminal prosecution. When you read ‘educators pulled out the paddle 20 times on kindergartners’ what this means is that an adult assaulted a child aged 4-6 with a weapon, with premeditation. One can only admire the bravery of such adults and the wisdom of a school system that encourages this practice.

By: Jennie Bergeron

Jennie Bergeron — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 20:25:34 +0000

I taught in a MS school district from 1985 – 1989, where paddling was the norm. I stopped sending students to the Principal because I didn’t like paddling. But once a Principal called me in and made ME paddle a child because he was in my class and was in trouble elsewhere in school. I also worked in a district in South Louisiana from 1996 – 2013. When I would call parents to discuss their child’s behavior, they almost always said, “Y’all have a paddle there, don’t you?” I will be glad to see paddling banned – it has no place in education.

By: Wilmarie

Wilmarie — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 20:19:40 +0000

I think if we took every instance of the word “paddled” and replaced it with the word “hit” it would be obvious to proponents that this practice has no place in public schools, or any place that purports to serve children. Spanking and paddling are just fancy words for hitting kids. It’s not nuance. It’s prettying up a bad scheme. Children shouldn’t be hit. Period. I hope that adults read this and take time to interrogate their beliefs around hitting children and why there are some that still hold on to it as an acceptable practice.