What I think should happen in a situation like this is that the parent should be called into the school each time their child misbehaves in an outrageous manner. Even if it means calling them into the school everyday. After a while, the parent is going to get the message that they are the ones who need to be responsible for the discipline of their children.

As for expelling a child from the school, I think that is just giving in to what they want. Allowing a child to drop out just reinforces the fact that, with bad behavior, they can get whatever they want. These children almost always become a burden on society rather than productive members.

I have seen corporal punishment used on younger students by other teachers or the discipline principal and I have seen a marked change in behavior. I have never seen a positive change in older students.

Not to mention my older students see the paddlings in a different way… almost as if it is a badge of honor. I had three male students ask me to paddle them as a graduation gift this year. I keep telling myself it is because they know that I don’t paddle students because the other reasons are disturbing.

I agree that many students are not well behaved and are downright rude in many cases but I don’t see corporal punishment being the answer.

Students are quick to say that teachers/principals used corporal punishment since they know the law is against it. So, I think that only in rare circumstances should it be allowed for disciplining purposes, but then we get into what type of corporal punishment should we use. You only mention one form, the paddle on the “butt”, but others might be used also and then what? “Children” of all ages won’t all respond favorably to your form of punishment. (Maybe a younger one would, however, older ones might just quit school because of it and that defeats the purpose.)

I can go on and on about this topic due to the fact that I’ve experienced something like it while I’ve been a teacher in Special Education, where students of all ages fought each other and disrespected the staff frequently. Not much was done about it and when they were suspended for a day or 2, that was viewed as a reward by us and them.

I believe the best resolution to this problem is to have them go through in-school detention for at least a week with a written or/and physical work assignment as the punishment. Then have both of their parents come up to the principal’s office to meet with the prin., the tchr. and them, the youngster. Witihin that conference decide what form of punishment will be carried out by the parents. I bet you that one or both of them will most likely use “corporal punishment” on their child, unless they too are worried about being found out about and reported to what used to be called the Bureau of Child Welfare (BCW). Now I think its initials are C.W.A. or C.S.A.

I really couldn’t committ myself to a definite agreement or disagreement to implementing corporal punishment in all instances with all youth. If I was to give my opinion, I’d say not to bring it back. Why? Because we are in the 21st Century and there has to be a better way to resolve this serious problem among students, teachers, principals and lest we forget their parents too. Sometimes just by taking away their privileges such as use of the computer or their allowance that will get more of a “rise out of them” than “hitting or beating them”. (And that’s not against any law and no law will have to be changed to do this.)

I hope that this long answer has helped you in some good ways.

The answer is economic. It’s a bigger answer than you can have here, and I certainly don’t know all the answers. People must be invested in their community to have respect for the parts of the community that make it run. Transient people, or people with no identity to the greater community generally are less economically able to participate in their children’s schooling. Many come from schools that have failed in larger cities.

To sum my answer, this is too big an issue to settle with an ill defined corporal punishment for bad behavior. The easy answer is to isolate these students and deal with them one on one to redirect their anger. Are you willing to pay the price for that? Personally, I think we must before this gets away from us as a nation.

Outside of the school though, parents must exercise authority at home, and often times that doesn’t happen, so behavior is exemplified at school (and other places). To be effective, there should be consequences in both places.