Letter to my son's Asst. Principal re: paddling UPDATED Pg 14!

[DisneyMomx7]

GEM,

So glad everything worked out for you.

I completely agree with you - paddling definitely should be outlawed in the schoools. Good for you!

 

[shortbun]

Why does everyone assume that children who are paddled at school or spanked at home live in fear? Its like you think they sit around cringing thinking they are going to be beaten at any chance. That's just not the way it is.


6 years old is not a baby. I taught 4 year olds for years. One of the first lessons we learned and one we went over on a constant basis was "keep your hands to yourself". This was something they knew when they started Kindergarten. I am sorry, but 6 is plenty old enough to know not to do this.

You really don't believe that 6yo children have such perfect impulse control just because you told them, do you?

AND - it would make me scared as an adult that someone could take a wooden paddle and spank me with it. Why would it not instill fear in a child?

 

[Schmeck]

One thing - since Paul is so good about escorting the sick kids, I hope he is being reminded to wash his hands afterwards? Or the poor kid could be getting sick himself!

 

[RitaZ.]

This is barbaric. I looked online to see the states that allow this, and for the most part, they are all southern states. Does anyone have any idea why this seems to be such a regional thing? I can't believe that parents aren't marching on their state capitals to put an end to this.

Just because corporal punishment is legal in certain states doesn't mean that schools use it as a form of discipline. It is legal in FL, but it's not allowed in our district. That's all I need to know. There was a case years ago where a teacher hit a student with a ruler and the district was set to fire her.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

All's well that ends well.

For this child.

As for how they handle checking the files, I'm not sure. This is a fairly small school - k and 1st only, about 200 kids in each grade. The asst. principal is the main discipline guy, so I feel fairly sure nobody will be paddling my child.

Honestly, I know there has been a lot of outrage here, and I certainly agree. But, as you said, in this part of the country, this is the norm. We, as non-spankers, are definitely in the minority. I think a lot of it is because of the religious "spare the rod and spoil the child" type thinking. This is the middle of the "Bible Belt" and the basic idea that a good whipping is the answer to most discipline issues still prevails here.

If I had more time and energy, I'd be up for trying to get the law changed, or at least the local school board policy. However, the question of out-lawing corporal punishment in schools has been before the legislature several times and has been defeated each time. Honestly, I don't know that I'm up for that kind of fight right now. I'm just happy to know that my child won't be on the receiving end of the paddle.

I can assure you that having a strong faith does not mean we all believe in this kind of abuse. It scares me that your sons school is only K & 1st and that paddling a child is their automatic first reaction It's bad enough that it's an option at all, but when the "main discipline guy" automatically reaches for the paddle there's something wrong there.

I'd be afraid to send my child to that school.

 

[rufus jones]

Funny how for 200 years children were paddled in school and turned out just fine, and now all of a sudden it's going to mental scare the poor snowflakes! Geez!


Kinda like how animals have lived outside for thousands of years, but now a days leaving a dog outside makes you a barbarian. It's freaking hilarious.

 

[m&m's mom]

I got paddled in school for being home sick one day when the principal thought I was skipping school. Completely unjust but guess what- I lived!
It is not even one of the top 50 bad things that ever happened to me.