Paddlings Widespread in South, Study Says

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When I was in HS several years ago, paddling was fairly common and, obviously, very painful and humiliating.
However, being an athlete AND scholar, graduating 3rd from the top of the class, I never had an occasion to "feel the heat" of that form of punishment.
What I CAN say about paddling is that, if ANYONE, had paddled me, I would have DEFINATELY, transmitted to the paddler, be he principal, teacher, etc. that he was going to have hell to pay for this misdeed. AND i can assure you, he would have gotten my "message". AND he WOULD hve payed; the ways ARE legion: ex: his wife discovering faux emails of extra-marital affairs etc.
The practice of paddling young adults is barbarous and is a blight on the record of southern (mis)education.

James Tilson of MS 12:20AM February 13, 2010

Paddling is a very efficient means of convincing a deserving student (including females), that various bad behaviors will not be tolerated. To maximize the inhibiting efect of the punishment, it should be administered in front of the whole class, as the embarrassment, is extreme.

C THOMAS STANTON of WY 11:45PM February 12, 2010

As someone who witnessed classroom paddlings in the late 70's/ early 80's, for the most part, I disagree with it. UNLESS... 1. parents sign a permission slip. 2. It can never be more than two swats in single day. 3. It's done out of view of other students. 3. And only males can discipline boys, and women to discipline the girls.

Jodie of WI 11:12PM December 22, 2008

Paddling in schools has declined over the years, but has behavior gotten better? The answer is NO. It has gotten much worse. It is time to put the paddle back in the schools and use it regularly. I do agree, however, that a parent's wishes should be respected if they don't want their children paddled. In that case, they should be sent home for an appropriate period of time and the parents should have to account for their behavior. I got paddled twice in twelve years of school. It straightened me out. When my daughter was disturbing class at school, I gave the principal permission to paddle her. That was the last time that the school ever had to call me about behavior. It does work in spite of what the bleeding heart pinheads would have you believe. No, I don't believe in abuse, but two or three swats under carefully controlled circumstances and rules is perfectly fine.

T.P. of LA 1:58AM October 14, 2008

i think if kids get in tuble at school should paddle by tercher,s and sent to the principles office and the he should give the paddle too,,

joanne kendell of 3:27PM October 07, 2008

I think that if the teacher paddles a child the child should take a note home to the parent and the the parent paddle the child again. When I was little I got paddled in school and had to take a note home to my parents but knew that I was going to get the paddle at home so snuck in and went to my room to start my homework only to find out that my teacher had also called to say that I had gotten paddled at schooland would my parents do something about it. So my dad being the one to paddle me would come into my room and he be caring the paddle in and I start saying no dad no dad and he would pull me up from my chair and move me over to the bed were he sat down and took down my pants and I got paddled 50 times and by butt was beat red and burning and I had to stand in the corner pants still down and wait for another 50 paddles again after the timer went off

Shannon of 5:53AM September 05, 2008

I was a pretty good student, generally respectful and (despite a few typical shenanigans) was never paddled at school---even though they could have and did with some.
If I had been paddled in junior high or high school, I absolutely GUARANTEE you I would not have "knuckled under" but rather (over time) would have gotten even in a serious way with whatever teacher or principal whacked on me.
I am neither atypical nor criminal. No abuse, bullying, crime from me. No record. But I GUARANTEE you I would not be whacked by somebody and not get even. THIS, FOLKS IS WHY THEY DON'T PADDLE IN PRISONS LIKE THEY ONCE DID. INMATES HAVE GANGS AND THEY HAVE THEIR RETRIBUTIONS. SO DO KIDS.

of 3:42PM August 27, 2008

If people continue to believe you can teach students "respect" by not respecting them and paddling them...
Paddling is a form of punishment that is exactly that. PUnitive. It does not teach anything to a child except to get sneakier, to hate and to have resentment. OR when it does work as with many adults who remember it that way...to be obedient and learn to conform. NOne of these sound like things I want my child learning. There are soooooo many intelligent and creative ways to give consequences that "fit the crime." Come on schools, use the brains you are trying to model to the students. Get over this archaic form of consequence and call it what it is..disrespect, disempowerment and hierarchiacal.

Shannon of CA 11:13AM August 26, 2008

The kids are not taught to respect anyone these days. I went through Jr. High School and they did not put up with anything, the teachers & supervisors. They were only 5 teachers and 2 supervisors that could paddle the kids. I laughed when the big bad boys or girls, that was not going to do what was told and nobody could make them, would come back in class and you could tell they had cried. 2 of the teachers was "wicked". They knew how to paddle to get the point across! Nobody wanted to go to them!! The point is the kids should be paddled in school to behave. These kids that run home screaming "bloody murder" so that the parents could make a fuss, should be hung up by their toes. If they want to miss behave at home so be it. When they come to school they should behave and give respect to the hard under paid teachers that tries to teach the little brats!

Cynthia R. of GA 9:22AM August 26, 2008

I think they should do away with it for the simple fact that with our kids today all it does is add more anger and next thing you know is another school shooting or another teacher dead.
In fact i am the reason Dayton Public Schools stopped paddling.

William Sanford of OH 8:21AM August 26, 2008