Wow, I am enraged just reading this!

Was this discussed with the Principal, does he/she support this?

Is there anything about this form of punishment in the school's policies?

Next step may be discussing this with the Superintendant of Schools and get their opinion on the matter.

Lastly I wonder what would happen if you wrote a letter to the Principal/teachers stating that you do not give permission for this type of punishment to be used with your child. If that gets accepted then you might be able to get others to sign a single letter blanketing the issue.

Good luck and let us lnow how things work out.
PresidentJim

I'm British, teaching in Mexico. Corporal punishment is illegal in both countries. We have a large number of American & Canadian children at the school where I teach. For me, obviously, cp has never been an issue.
A few months ago, however, I was taking a 7th grade class, to which an American girl had just arrived, from Texas.
I took the opportunity to reiterate the homework rules. Fifty percent automatic reduction in mark if late by one day; none if by more than that etc.
I thought I had made this rule clear, but the new girl then asked me if she would be paddled if her homework was late. I hid the fact that I was horrified at this suggestion, and explained that this was illegal in Mexico, and against the principles of our school in any case.
She looked relieved, but went on to explain that this had been a common practice at her previous school in Texas.
Although I think I was vaguely aware that such a thing was not unknown in the USA, this was the first time I had heard of it happening specifically.
Later, at lunch, I mentioned this to a couple of collegues, both American. Robert, from Texas, merely smiled and said he thought it was a good thing. Bonnie, from California fumed, and told me, in angry terms, that corporal punishment did not occur in any American school. She came close to accusing me and the girl of lying, so angry did she become.
I do however believe that it is still practised in some schools, and I simply cannot believe that it has not been outlawed long ago.

i didn't take the time to read this whole thread, but i am SHOCKED that there are states in this country that still allow corporal punishment. I guess I am VERY naive !

mama09--first of all, don't tell me that because I see all forms of corporal punishment as abuse that I don't know what true abuse is. been there, gotten that. however, this isn't a peeing contest on who the most abused is. this is about our children, EVERYONE's children. just because you sanction it, doesn't mean that I do. What gives anyone the right to hit my children? Not you and certainly not the state government. Who can draw the line on where abuse starts and punishment ends? Do the research and see what the statistics say. Then go to Love and Logic and see the alternative way to change behavior of children.

Wow Mama.... here's some eggnog and hugs. The Holiday spirit is missing from the boards the last few.

Not all here agree on Capital PUnishment but degrading others for their views when they havent been ramming down others or have discussed it civilly is not very cool!!!

Everyone here tries to discuss in a civil manner - IF facts and evidence are presented in a civil and non judgemental manner.

Mamaof9 - you make some very bold statements. You alude to personal experience and I am truly sad for any mistreatment you may have been exposed to. I'm unclear, though, how that might make you feel like you can decide for folks what is merely punishment and what is abuse. Surely you're not saying it's OK to hit kids a little bit, just not a lot?

Please don't assume that those against corporal punishment don't know what true abuse is. Abuse comes in all shapes and sizes and I'm afraid many more people than you would suspect know all too much about it.

I will decide for myself and my child what is appropriate punishment. If I decide that any physical punishment is wrong then that's perfectly OK for me to say, regardless of what experiences I may or may not have had.

You make a huge mistake in assuming that because it isn't on the news then it doesn't exist. If this type of abuse is considered normal then it isn't considered newsworthy, right?

And finally, while you say:

My home state (not mentioned because I don't want anybody getting any crazy ideas similar to ones mentioned on this board)

You also say:

I live in NC and wholeheartedly support the right of teachers to discipline students, even with corporal punishment!

Ooops...

And finally, I take great offense to your wording:

My home state protects the rights of teachers to discipline students.

No, sadly, your home state protects the rights of teachers to abuse students in the name of discipline.