Paddlings Widespread in South, Study Says

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I feel if I can't paddle my own child without the threat of being put in jail why should teachers be able to do so? That sure dosen't seem fair to me. If I can't they can't.

Jeff Taylor of TN 6:23AM August 26, 2008

This is so ridiculous. If a child is molested, there is a great chance he will become a child molester himself. If you think that paddling is going to make people stop being humans, then you might as well say that the holocaust was going to REALLY cleanse the world of evil. You cant fight insubordination, etc. with VIOLENCE, and you cant ask a teacher to do that kind of thing to a student. I'm a student myself, and I don't just see my teachers as people who are just trying to do their job. You have to work at a personal level with teachers, and PADDLING would definitely take that away. I would be scared to death of my teachers if I knew that if I spoke my mind and they didn't appreciate what I said, they pull out a paddle and beat me till I cant sit down.

Ryan Booth of IL 6:18AM August 26, 2008

Does the Human Rights Watch have nothing better to do? Perhaps they should be looking on our city streets at the homeless who actually do need someone to watch out for their rights. Whoever contributed to this endeavor should demand their money back. What a disgusting waste of money and manpower.
I am sure that parents and school boards can handle the situation with no help from these "professionals."

Gunner Sykes of IN 9:10PM August 24, 2008

Isn't it interesting that the people who do the worst job of parenting (Southern States) want to tell everyone else how they should parent. Look at any child related statistic you can think of: infant mortality, child abuse, child neglect, poor academic performance, teen pregnancy, school drop-outs, suicide, bullying & gay bashing - the South with few exceptions leads the country in not looking out for it's children.
No, I'm not an elitist Northerner, I was born and have lived all my life in the South and I work in both the education system and the corrections system.
Why are these things such a problem in the South? - we don't value compassion or understanding other people - we are often proud of our ignorance. Church people often talk of compassion, but only to those they find "deserving" in their very narrow view. I do love the South, but I want it to catch up with the rest of the civilized world.

Candace of FL 2:30PM August 22, 2008

There can be no excuse for such treatment of students in America. To learn respect, one must be treated with respect. Our schools should model good behavior, including how to resolve conflict and deal with misbehavior without violence.
Both my parents were teachers, and they kept excellent control of their classrooms, where talking back and other rude or disruptive behavior was never tolerated. And never was there any violence. Thankfully in our state corporal punishment was not allowed. Rarely did they have to resort to sending a student out to the office. My mother, teaching high school students, would make phone calls to parents of problem students when needed, calling in the evening from home when she could spend time discussing the issue at hand. So often she said that the problem was really coming from the home.
Corporal punishment fosters anger and resentment. Education should be about enthusiastic learning, about teaching children the joy of learning to take with them in their journey through life.

Nicole of FL 1:16PM August 22, 2008

i am 23 and was never paddled in school but i should have been. many more should have been two. i have actaully moved to a southern state and found out they allowed it in certain districts with parents permission. i have moved into one of those districts not only for that reason but it was a big positive. kids these days have no respect for their teachers or anyone else thats an authority figure. while there needs to be guidelines and even a witness present. i believe its within the right and need of the school. parents cannot discipline there kids while they are at school and three licks with a paddle aint that bad. these kids aren't getting beat. a belt would be a beating. i say keep it going kids these days need to learn some respect and that there are consuquences for your actions

eric of TN 12:26PM August 22, 2008

Few people realize that today much of US paddling is meted out to teen girls, often by middle aged men. The statistics often hide this fact with the presentation that most victims are male, but fail to account for the age gap. For example females in one high-rate paddling school in Texas have a 2% chance of being paddled in elementary, 11% chance in junior high, and 17% chance in high school, with almost all paddlings administered by males in the high school level, while male paddlings are more even spread.
There is certaintly a pornographic aspect to paddling, especially easy to see with men paddling teen girls, and these days schools are full of internet linked spy and security cameras with private coded access that have little accountability, let alone paddlers own possible private spy cams.
Paddling is never taught in the New Testament, and was actually invented for slaves. It does not prevent violent crime or prison, as both violent crime and prison rates are highest in the paddling states, and in the high paddling states overall in particular.
There is no good reason to cointinue paddling except for the perverse enjoyment of the paddlers -- and this is also a psychological harm to them.
Jeff Charles
www.nopaddle.com

Jeff Charles of MI 5:43PM August 21, 2008

I was paddled in school. I deserved it each and every time. Today's teachers must endure more disrespect than ever before. Children do not understand the meaning of consequences for their actions. In my school, we did. If you act in certain manner, you will be paddled by the teacher and or the principle. Should you choose to act in that manner you should get the level of discipline it deserves. Removing the child from class only puts them at a greater disadvantage. It was surprising how much attention I paid after receiving my three licks. The embarrassment lasts much longer than the sting. In life there are consequences for your actions and there should be for school children too. Removing them from class is a reward, not a punishment. One thing that is not mentioned in this article is that children cannot be paddled unless the school has received written approval from the parents or guardian.

Kevin of AR 3:20PM August 21, 2008

Chances are at least fair that minorities are not being paddled more than other kids because teachers and principals prefer it, but because more minorities than others are coming to school from backgrounds of bad or absent parenting. Strong-willed kids who plan to ignore or challenge the teachers are the ones who cheat all the other kids out of education excellence.
Teachers do not need to be paddling anyone AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF BEING ABLE TO EXCLUDE TROUBLE-MAKERS FROM CLASS.
No teacher should ever have to put up with sass. Not for a minute.
As for gum chewing, a principal who paddles for that should be run out of town on a rail. He/she is a martinet with an attitude.

of 10:38AM August 21, 2008