Three extracts, culminating in the most recent, from a long-running debate on a teachers’ forum regarding school punishments:

From October 2006:

I am teaching for my first year here in south Ms. school teaching 8th grade and 9th grade English. This past Wednesday two of my ninth grade girls I guess decided to not attend my 5th period English class. One of the teachers who was on their free period caught them coming back on campus 15 min. before the class would be over. She brought them to me. I then had them go to our Asst. Principal with a note stating the reason.

I was shocked that he immediately felt this was a call for corporal punishment…These girls are good students who I think decided to make a wrong choice. He had me to come to the office which I had to leave my 6th period class and when I was brought both girls were crying and then informed me that their parents had been called and they were going to receive 5 licks with a wooden paddle that would be administered by him to their buttocks which I would be their witness. He also went on to say they would write a 3,000 word theme the subject would be chosen by me and to be graded by me.

He then instructed one of the girls to step out of the office and wait til she was called in. The had me to stand in front of the other girl as she was bent over I was to hold her shoulders as he paddled her. He gave her 5 very hard licks and she cried the whole time. I am appalled that this took place with no input from me as a professional teacher.

27 May 2007 – Brenda

I think the appropriateness of corporal punishment depends on the student involved. In our district, parents fill out a form prohibiting or permitting paddling of their child which will be honored. Most are Christians and allow it.

At the high school level, students are given the option of swats unless their parents have prohibited it. So both the student and parents must agree to a paddling instead of some other punishment.

Almost all boys and about 75 percent of girls choose a paddling. Girls are paddled by a designated female coach or administrator. This approach does seem to work.

5 June 2009 – Lisa

I am in the 10th grade-

I just received FIVE HARD licks for skipping school as well. BOY- It hurt like nothing I ever imagined! I had to bend over a desk and the AP (lady) really laid on five burning, blistering licks. She really burned my ass off with an oak paddle with holes in it! Do anything you can to avoid the paddle- take it from me!

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