Down Syndrome child, corporal punishment & school.. need input.. long

[jamimb]

I haven't read every response, but I just have to ask if this is for real. There are schools that actually think corporal punishment is OK? This is a joke, right?

I am a assistant teacher here in MS and yes we still spank our kids in school. The parents have to sign a form agreeing to it and it is only used as a very last resort (I have only heard of it a few times) but yes it is for real! I personally think it is great! If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I am a assistant teacher here in MS and yes we still spank our kids in school. The parents have to sign a form agreeing to it and it is only used as a very last resort (I have only heard of it a few times) but yes it is for real! I personally think it is great! If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

You must be joking, right? How does an adult feel after they hit a child? Do they feel in charge? I just can't wrap my head around hitting anything or anyone - I keep reading this thread, because it seem so unbelievable to me. And, after reading the above - I swear, I'm outraged and sick to my stomach.

Do you really think it's great or are you being sarcastic (please tell me the above is a joke)? Because, honestly, I can't think of anything lower than striking a child. Nothing. It's disgraceful.

Seriously - I am sick to my stomach right now.

 

[MELSMICE]

As said the school did not like it.
The child we did try to speak up for was removed from the school. He was not welcome any longer and we had to remove our child because he was "the one whose parents interfered with the school internal rules".

Our child was bullied for almost two years by the school staff.
It was that sneaky way of bullying a child.

Looking back, we accomplished nothing for nobody.

This is not a personal attack on you but, why would anyone want their child in a school that enforced corporal punishment if they did not believe in it?

 

[MELSMICE]

If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

Has it changed their behavior at school?

 

[disneyjunkie]

If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

Wait, so you're saying a parent who does not spank their child, signed a form allowing someone else to do so? I find that hard to believe.

 

[jamimb]

You must be joking, right? How does an adult feel after they hit a child? Do they feel in charge? I just can't wrap my head around hitting anything or anyone - I keep reading this thread, because it seem so unbelievable to me. And, after reading the above - I swear, I'm outraged and sick to my stomach.

Do you really think it's great or are you being sarcastic (please tell me the above is a joke)? Because, honestly, I can't think of anything lower than striking a child. Nothing. It's disgraceful.

Seriously - I am sick to my stomach right now.

You are entitled to your own opinion as am I but yes those were my real thoughts. Again like I have already stated it is only used as a very last resort, with a parents permission and if it will cause a child to sit up and pay attention, behave and focus on their studies then yes I am actually all for it! I do not understand the outrage? Do you not realize that lots and lots of parents still actually spank thier children? Whats's the difference. My school is, however, very discreet about it and the child would have to have had done something really bad and have been in the office like every day for a month for it to happen. I know some of those children wouldnt need that kind of intervention if their parents had taken the time to do it at home. I do not believe in beating your child but believe very strongly in spanking! Again this is only done with the parent's consent.

 

[Briarmom]

I am a assistant teacher here in MS and yes we still spank our kids in school. The parents have to sign a form agreeing to it and it is only used as a very last resort (I have only heard of it a few times) but yes it is for real! I personally think it is great! If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

Absolutely disgusting. If we ever have to move back to that God-awful State, we'd never put our kids in that 'school system.'

 

[jamimb]

Has it changed their behavior at school?

Yes I have seen it make a difference!

 

[jamimb]

Absolutely disgusting. If we ever have to move back to that God-awful State, we'd never put our kids in that 'school system.'

Don't get me wrong I am NOT happy any time a child needs to be punished (whether it be spanking or some other form) I hate to even write a referral for my students but I do believe in some rare cases (and believe me it is rare) it is warranted and does help.

 

[disneyjunkie]

This is not a personal attack on you but, why would anyone want their child in a school that enforced corporal punishment if they did not believe in it?

Some people have no other choices.

My family is from a small town in SC. They only have one elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school for that town. These are the only schools there, no charter and no private schools.

 

[MELSMICE]

You are entitled to your own opinion as am I but yes those were my real thoughts. Again like I have already stated it is only used as a very last resort, with a parents permission and if it will cause a child to sit up and pay attention, behave and focus on their studies then yes I am actually all for it! I do not understand the outrage? Do you not realize that lots and lots of parents still actually spank thier children? Whats's the difference. My school is, however, very discreet about it and the child would have to have had done something really bad and have been in the office like every day for a month for it to happen. I know some of those children wouldnt need that kind of intervention if their parents had taken the time to do it at home. I do not believe in beating your child but believe very strongly in spanking! Again this is only done with the parent's consent.

In response to your statement above, which I bolded..... those of us that don't believe in corporal punishment either at school or home, get outraged because we don't understand this barbaric method of discipline.

I have a different opinion than yours when you say: "I know some of those children wouldnt need that kind of intervention if their parents had taken the time to do it at home." I personally believe that many of these children would not behave the way they do & act out if they were not so angry because of the behavior they are witnessing/learning at home (ie: being spanked, hit)

 

[disneyjunkie]

Yes I have seen it make a difference!

For how long?

 

[MELSMICE]

Some people have no other choices.

My family is from a small town in SC. They only have one elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school for that town. These are the only schools there, no charter and no private schools.

Completely serious question & not meant to offend at all..............is it a "low income" town that is difficult to get yourself away from? (not you, personally) I seriously don't mean that in a negative way, but I do know there are situations where sometimes people just can't further/better themselves because of different circumstances.

Our town only has one school district. Thank goodness it is a well ranked one, however, if it was not there are many private schools in our area. Anyone wishing to attend a private school gets bused by the public school system to the school of their choice. I guess we are fortunate that we have a choice of many good schools to send our DD's.

 

[tw1nsmom]

You are entitled to your own opinion as am I but yes those were my real thoughts. Again like I have already stated it is only used as a very last resort, with a parents permission and if it will cause a child to sit up and pay attention, behave and focus on their studies then yes I am actually all for it! I do not understand the outrage? Do you not realize that lots and lots of parents still actually spank thier children? Whats's the difference. My school is, however, very discreet about it and the child would have to have had done something really bad and have been in the office like every day for a month for it to happen. I know some of those children wouldnt need that kind of intervention if their parents had taken the time to do it at home. I do not believe in beating your child but believe very strongly in spanking! Again this is only done with the parent's consent.

The main reason that a spanking happens (whether they admit it or not) is that the adults in charge need an outlet for their frustrations. Not a very good reason to hit someone.

Spanking is statistically NOT a good deterrent for children exhibiting truly delinquent behavior. It has shown effective in changing class clown-like behavior. But really? You're going to physically beat a child for shooting rubber bands?

Those educators who support or participate in corporal punishment are showing themselves to be ignorant ineffective educators. It is the mark of a school that is both in poverty (a statistical fact) and under trained. An African American student has twice the likelihood of being beaten at school and a child with disabilities is most likely to be beaten.

I would hope that anyone in the education field who believed that spanking was a good deterrent would either go back to school themselves or find a new profession.

There are many, many intelligent, compassionate people and educators in the south. The above post, unfortunately reinforces the opposite stereotype for the rest of the country and world.

 

[java]

I personally think it is great! If some of those kids got spankings at home the Principal would'nt have to do it!

Around here if the principal did that he/she would be in jail for assault. My 3 year old understands to "use your words not your hands". It's sad that a principal feels the need to do this. Not very effective leadership imho.

 

[MELSMICE]

The main reason that a spanking happens (whether they admit it or not) is that the adults in charge need an outlet for their frustrations. Not a very good reason to hit someone.

Spanking is statistically NOT a good deterrent for children exhibiting truly delinquent behavior. It has shown effective in changing class clown-like behavior. But really? You're going to physically beat a child for shooting rubber bands?

Those educators who support or participate in corporal punishment are showing themselves to be ignorant ineffective educators. It is the mark of a school that is both in poverty (a statistical fact) and under trained. An African American student has twice the likelihood of being beaten at school and a child with disabilities is most likely to be beaten.

I would hope that anyone in the education field who believed that spanking was a good deterrent would either go back to school themselves or find a new profession.

There are many, many intelligent, compassionate people and educators in the south. The above post, unfortunately reinforces the opposite stereotype for the rest of the country and world.

Great post - I completely agree!

 

[cruellababy]

This whole thing is really disgusting- Who knew they still spanked in SCHOOL? And in 2009 ?
I would never allow my child to be hit in school, school is a place they should feel safe.
Unbelievable.

 

[Disneyadore]

This is not a personal attack on you but, why would anyone want their child in a school that enforced corporal punishment if they did not believe in it?

Its not taken as an attack but some times you just have no choice.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

You are entitled to your own opinion as am I but yes those were my real thoughts. Again like I have already stated it is only used as a very last resort, with a parents permission and if it will cause a child to sit up and pay attention, behave and focus on their studies then yes I am actually all for it! I do not understand the outrage? Do you not realize that lots and lots of parents still actually spank thier children? Whats's the difference. My school is, however, very discreet about it and the child would have to have had done something really bad and have been in the office like every day for a month for it to happen. I know some of those children wouldnt need that kind of intervention if their parents had taken the time to do it at home. I do not believe in beating your child but believe very strongly in spanking! Again this is only done with the parent's consent.

Fair - those are your thoughts. I just in a million years can't even imagine striking any of my beautiful children. I was never spanked - I know parents still do it. Don't get it. I think it's a cop out. There's nothing my kids have ever done that has even caused me for a second to think the only way I could stop their behavior was to whack them across the butt. And, even worse than spanking one's own child - giving permission for someone else to do so?!

I just can't even begin to imagine giving another adult permission to strike my child. How hard does that person hit? What if they miss? Are there witnesses to make sure it's "proper hitting"? What the hell is proper hitting? The whole thing is nuts.

I think I'm going to unsubscribe - I just think it's disgusting that people think hitting children is the way to make them obedient. If I hit one of my employees or another person's child, I'd go to jail. But you and the principal in that school can hit your children and other people's children and that's okay in your mind. Nope. Don't get it.

To each his own. I just can't imagine how a child feels when the person they love most in the world causes them pain. Nope. Don't get it.

 

[luvmy3]

I went to Catholic school so I really don't need to say any more about what went on all those years ago. I do not believe those methods are being used today and being that I'm in NY I'm not sure they were legal back then

I really don't have an issue with this type of discipline in the home, if it works for a parent then I don't see a problem with it. (Before anyone flames I do not mean beating a child because spanking is not the same) However in school is a different matter, even with parental permission its just not right.
Anyway, I just wanted to commend you OP for wanting to stop this practice in your district. I know you can't change this one case, but I hope you take your "movement" and change it for the future.