Texas Law: Corporal Punishment For Elementary Kids Okay as Long as it Doesn’t Cause Death
The mother of a seven-yr-old boy says her son had bruises from a paddling administered by the school principle of a San Augustine, Texas school. The crime: The 7-yr-old allegedly having in his possession a calculator that was taken from the high school by another student. The punishment: three whacks with a paddle one inch thick, wrapped in surgical tape, with electric lights that plugged into a wall socket.
According to the Daily Sentinel, corporal punishment for elementary kids is okay unless it results in “death”:
“According to the Texas Education Agency, which does not track corporal punishment statistics, during the last legislative session, two bills that would have mandated parent consent on corporal punishment never passed. So as it stands, current state law allows for teachers and principals to issue corporal punishment as they see fit, as long as it does not cause death.”
Woman says boy bruised by paddle
[...] Texas Law: Corporal Punishment For Elementary Kids Okay as Long as it Doesn’t Cause Death [...]
Children have rights. And one of those is the right not to be hit.
It is up to the parents to discipline the children. I personally do not believe in corporal punishment as children have rights. And as they learn by example and by explanation. Sometimes punishment is necessary but this punishment need not be a flagrant infringement of rights.
If I had a kid in public school (that will be the day as I am a firm believer in seperation of school and state) and they were corporally punished, the lawsuit would go on forever.
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Mondo Reply:
November 15th, 2009 at 16:50
Alice Lillie,
“Separation of school and state” sounds like a great concept…or at least “separation of school and state money”…
“It is up to the parents to discipline the children.”
Agreed. But, I’m sure you’re familiar with
‘in loco parentis’–in the parent’s place. If parents are going to give the schools the responsibility of their children, they have to have control. You can’t have one without the other. Some school districts have corporal punishment, some don’t. I’ve taught in both and I can tell you, it makes a difference–particularly with boys of middle school/jr. high age. It’s not the corporal punishment per se that helps maintain control over these age groups. The threat is always stronger than the execution.
In America, anyone can sue anyone else for anything, but if a parent sends their child to a school with corporal punishment, then they’ll have a hard time getting around ‘in loco parentis’–unless gross negligence can be proved. It’s better to home school, in that case.
But then, I believe it’s better to home school in a LOT of cases.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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Texas is back asswards. Anyone seen the drop out rate there?
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