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From: lkk@teddy.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.kids,net.legal,net.politics
Subject: Re: corporal punishment in schools
Message-ID: <1214@teddy.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 12:40:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: teddy.1214
Posted: Wed Aug 28 12:40:40 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 10:26:17 EDT
References: <2149T3B@psuvm> <658@rduxb.UUCP>
Reply-To: lkk@teddy.UUCP (Larry K. Kolodney)
Organization: GenRad, Inc., Concord, Mass.
Lines: 49
Xref: watmath net.kids:1796 net.legal:2205 net.politics:10707
Summary: 

In article <658@rduxb.UUCP> smh@rduxb.UUCP (henning) writes:
>> I've discovered an odd situation here in Pennsylvania.
>> Corporal punishment, administered by a paddle, is occasionally used
>> in our local district.  It is "legal" in a curious way: is used
>> fairly infrequently: perhaps half a dozen times a year, officially.
>> But public (and private) school students are in
>> a unique legal and moral situation, where, without appeal, they may be
>> subjected to the pain and humiliation of a semi-public (it must be
>> witnessed) beating.
>
>In Pennsylvania, public school teachers including my wife have the
>rights of a parent in disciplining a child.  If a parent can spank
>a child, then the teacher can.  Any other restrictions are provided
>by the local school board. No one has the right to beat a child in Pa.
>The reason spanking is prohibited or restricted in most Pa. schools
>is due to the parents that sue school districts.
>
>The most important item in school discipline, is that it be consistent
>and enforced.  Kids respect rules and parents and teachers that care
>enough about them try to teach them right from wrong and instill in 
>them a sensitivity to antisocial behavior.
>
>Believe me, I don't envy my wife one minute spending each day in
>classrooms with 35 eight and ninth graders.  Teachers need to keep
>discipline or the taxpayers are just wasting their money on the
>teachers and more importantly, denying other children their education.




Discipline based on fear is worse than no discipline at all.  If a teacher
can't command the respect of students through non-violent means,
there is something wrong with the teacher.

My mother teaches second grade in one of the nastier areas of the
Bronx, in New York City.  She maintains order by letting the
students know, in no uncertain terms, that she will be fair with
them, but NOT TAKE ANY CRAP.  She has their respect, and
never resorts to corporal punishment (which is illegal).

BTW, these are tough streetwise kids who are normally quite
unruly (to put it nicely) outside of the classroom.

-- 

Sport Death,
Larry Kolodney
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