Corporal Punishment

[IHL]

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- The mother of a 6-year-old boy who attended Schaumburg Christian School said school officials suspended him from first grade Wednesday because she refused to spank him for disciplinary reasons.

Michelle Fallaw-Gabrielson said she was called to the school because her son, Chandler, was talking too much in class, chewing gum and bringing toys to school, Anna Davlantes reported.

"The administrator ... called me outside her office and said that it needed to be handled. I said, 'OK, when I take him home, I'll use my form of discipline,' and she said, 'No, either you go inside my office and spank him, or I am suspending him from school for a day,'" Fallaw-Gabrielson said.

"At that point, my eyes filled with tears and I said, 'I guess he's just suspended for the day,'" she said.

Fallaw-Gabrielson said she withdrew Chandler from the school the next day, Davlantes reported.

School officials defended the decision because parent-administered corporal punishment is clearly outlined in the school guidelines, something that parents must sign off on.

"I bring it to their attention because I want them to know about this before I enroll their child. I tell them that if their child ever gets in this position that they have an option. They do not have to spank -- it's their choice," school administrator Randy Thaxton said.

Fallaw-Gabrielson said she did not sign the agreement because she does not believe in spanking. She said she will home school Chandler for the rest of the school year and enroll him in an Aurora school after the summer.

"I put my son there for academic reasons, for moral structure. I didn't put my son there to be told I had to enforce corporal punishment on him," Fallaw-Gabrielson said.

The school's policy is highly unusual, but experts say it's legal, Davlantes said. Illinois state law bans corporal punishment in public schools, but the law doesn't apply to private schools.

[tamuct]

I'm torn on the corporal punishment issue in government schools. We have parents that willingly turn their children over to the government to be educated, yet pitch a fit if the school attempts to discipline their children. While corporal punishment may not necessarily be the best instrument for instilling discipline in children, it should be considered as an option.

[IHL]

I do not have kids but if I did and someone else laid on hand on them, I'd end up in jail. Teachers have no right to hit someone else's children no matter how badly they deserve it. I'm not against corporal punishment necessarily but this issue isn't really about corporal punishment. This issue is whether a teacher has the right to make the call as to whether or not a child should be spanked. They don't. If the child is out of control, disruptive and causing problems - expel them. Send them home, tell the parent to come and get them, whatever needs to be done to fix the problem.

I went to Catholic grade school (which explains why I'm not Catholic anymore but let's not get into that right now). I remember the Nuns constantly hitting children, including me. I thought it was wrong then and did nothing to change my mind or behavior. If anything it just aggravated me more and caused more problems.

This is a parenting issue and should be handled by the parents. If the kid isn't ready for school because they are disruptive, then remove the problem by removing the child.

[Wadi66]

Define Corporal Punishment. If a parent thinks two or three swats on the bottom is corporal punishment and therefore they won't do it, then no wonder they have an unrulely child, who then goes to school thinking they can get away with anything. Anything more than that could be considered abuse. Should the schools have the right? I wouldn't like them to discipline my children, that's for me to do and when necessary I did it. But what about parents that don't do it? Yeah you can expell the kids, but sure as shooten some liberal will come along and find a problem with that. After all the kid has a right to an education. Never mind that the disruptive child is interferring in the rights of the other kids to get an education. Somewhere you have to draw the line. Either you do it or we will. Don't like it, remove your kid.

[thumbelina]

:redface: Sorry, IHL... I had to pick Only if the child might grow up to be a liberal. :biggrin:

[Guns R Cool]

I went with yes. Detention and suspension aren't doing the job, kids at my school can do homework in them. If a kid throws a racial slur, just jack him in the face a few times. Bring pot to school, you lose your pinkie. Don't think anyone will bring pot to school now.

[bird]

No one has a right to put their hands on my children - PERIOD. How I discipline them as a parent is my right, not a "school official". Some people do not know the difference in "spanking" and "beating", and damned if I'll allow the government and public schools to tell me who can "spank" my children. :icon_twis

[beezlebug]

No one has a right to put their hands on my children - PERIOD. How I discipline them as a parent is my right, not a "school official". Some people do not know the difference in "spanking" and "beating", and damned if I'll allow the government and public schools to tell me who can "spank" my children. :icon_twis

Agreed but, the problem is that kids from parents like you often don't need a punishment at school.

I think the schools should have written permission by the parents and contacted for the "OK" before any punishment is given, like this school above did.

More often than not, unruly children get away with crap at school just like they do at home. Some parents let them get away with stuff with hopes someone else will handle it, single parents and post teen parents come to mind.

I hear a lot of crap that's going on in elementary schools, it's unreal what a 1st grader knows and says these days, if someone don't tie a knot in their little butts the world will be a sad place in 20 years.

[Guns R Cool]

Beezlebug is right. I feel a little weird about teachers hitting kids, but the more I think about the more I know it's for the best. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the right thing.

[bird]

Beezlebug is right. I feel a little weird about teachers hitting kids, but the more I think about the more I know it's for the best. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the right thing.

But just for arguments sake, what if the principal is having a bad day... they're pissed off at their spouse, kids or the cable company. Little Joey comes into their office escorted by a teacher who is pms'ing. Between the principal and teacher, little Joey is screwed - he's getting the belt. You, as a parent, cannot expect that other people react the same as you.

Then somewhere at sometime the trial lawyers get involved because Little Joey came home with welts, and his parents are upset - even though they signed a form. Then the whole thing is headed for civil courts and the only one who comes out ahead is the trial lawyer.

It's a lose/lose issue.

[God v2.0]

I went to Catholic grade school (which explains why I'm not Catholic anymore but let's not get into that right now). I remember the Nuns constantly hitting children, including me. I thought it was wrong then and did nothing to change my mind or behavior. If anything it just aggravated me more and caused more problems.

Same here. Catholic Grade school, public high school (junior now), havent been in a church in a year and a half.

Anyway, im all for the corporal punishment by parents. If they become abusive, they go to jail.

However, the administration in a school has no right to lay a hand on anyones child. BEcause that is not their child, it becomes assault. SInce you dont have parental consent, and parents have differing views on this policy, schools should not be allowed to use corporal punishment. If someone in a school even yelled at my kid or berated him for something minor, I would be all over that teacher.

What kind of psyco school suspends kids for talking and chewing gum in first grade?

THEY ARE KIDS. THEY ARE NATURALLY ACTIVE.

<insert ADD is BS rant>

[beezlebug]

Rules are meant to be followed, school begins a new set of rules for little monsters who haven't been taught differently.

The public schools systems have been going down hill since patteling was taken out of schools, by some whiny liberal no doubt.

I give public schools another 10 years before most of them become detentions centers, teaching phrases like "would you like fries with that".

Within that 10years, private schools will be booming.

[Raver]

I dunno, the way some of the kids act here at my school... If I were a teacher, I'd be more than happy to slap the student in the jaw for overly abusing the rules. I

I'm slightly torn on this issue. I understand how parents feel and that's perfectly fine. However, some of these students will hit the teachers or verbally abuse them (not an understatement). I believe that in extreme caes, teachers should have the right to punch a kid in the mouth. That way, no more problems. Parents might disagree, but it'll reflect on how good or bad of a parent they are.

[Wadi66]

The conduct of the child in school is ALREADY an indication of parenting skills.

Spare the rod, spoil the child.

Teach a child correct principles while they are young, and when they are old they will not depart from them.

[jackalope_herder]

Teach a child correct principles while they are young, and when they are old they will not depart from them.

Put that on a tee-shirt and send one to every man, woman, and child in America!

[toddy rotton]

old thread, lasting issue. i didn't vote here & heres why;

Mr. Catoneese of Sonora elementary school in Costa Mesa Ca. 1971, if you are reading this let me say this to you: "you rotton sick son of a bitch! first i hope you got your sick jolly's you miserable P.O.S. rot in hell you f#@$%& bastard. second i hope you're in prison for child abuse. i wish my mom would've reported you. if you're not in prison you are one lucky lucky f&*&*

WOW i actually forgot that was inside of me! now God can bring some healing there too.

[Oi_Ve]

Ok, let's get the record straight here on how corporal punishment REALLY works in public schools.
In every school I ever went to that had the corporal punishment policy, the policy wasn't that a teacher actually spanked the child. Instead they were sent to the office, where a higher up administrator heard the teacher's complaint, listened to the child, then decided whether to spank the child.
It was never anything more than 5 hits with a broad paddle (or, as it was affectionately called by the staff, "The Hand of God"). Nothing that could ever injure the child, and never done out of spur of the moment, "I'm-having-a-bad-day-so-I'm-going-to-be-at-the-crap-out-of-your-kid" reasons.
Now Catholic school and other private schools are a different matter, but I'm all for the above method, if only because it keeps kids in line out of fear.
You don't have to beat a child because they spelled their name wrong. That's counterproductive.
But if little Johnny (you ever notice how its always "little Johnny"?) decides to not follow the rules and keeps being an interruption, then hit him and see who else does it. Don't take it off the table, at least.

And yes, it is your child, and you should discipline them.
But at the same time, your child affects my child, and every one else's. You not only waste everyone's tax dollars, but also our children's time and education when you don't discipline your kids.
The public schools aren't there for YOUR child.
They're there for your's and mine and everyone else's child.
If you don't like the school spanking your child, then either don't send him to that school or make sure he doesn't act up.

[toddy rotton]

Ok, let's get the record straight here on how corporal punishment REALLY works in public schools.


I've said it before I'll say it again and again, you o.v. are a splendid voice of reason, but when you say: "REALLY works" the wording should read "SHOULD work." I wouldn't even then object to the qualifier, "most of the time".

"I would get pulled out of line on a regular basis sometimes for no appearant reason to me, but as I recall it was usually for "underachieving in academics" ie. "incomplete homework", NO JOKE!!!!!!! Nowadays the remedy for this is loss of recess or a few simple tests to find the cause. I struggled, sometimes until 11:00 @ night it wasn't a "lack of focus", or "laziness". One night I knew I was going to be beaten the next day so I hid in my sisters closet and let everyone think I was just gone, (not a real good thing to do to ones parents). This sick-o BEAT me not with two or up to five "paddles," this man beat me until I was sobbing or lost contenence, was I the exception? Good Lord, I HOPE I was the ONLY one this happenned to...EVER...ANYWHERE. Toward the end of the beatings I remember even my teacher would protect me by saying I had accomplished tasks I knew I hadn't. When the bruises went from the small of my back down to the lower portions of my thighs, I remember my mom talking on the phone saying "I said you could paddle him, not beat the shit out of him."

[Oi_Ve]

We'll compromise and say "REALLY SHOULD"

[toddy rotton]

We'll compromise and say "REALLY SHOULD"
now, spank 'em when they deserve it! :icon_smil