Really???

[GemmaPixie]

WOW....I'm sure corporal punishment is illegal here (then again that may just be an assumption...I thought it was illegal everywhere so I could be wrong).

Who carries out the punishment? Parents or teachers or what?

 

[LisaR]

I think the very idea that an adult can assault a child who is not their own is beyond belief. We've had teachers arrested for all sorts of unthinkable things around here, not just here but everywhere Giving something like this a nod is just unconscionable and should be banned.

I am not at all in favor of paddling being allowed in schools but the fact of the matter is that it is legal in most states. That particular state has paddling as an option. They set the rules for the prom attire and they set the consequences. Both the rules and the consequences were absurd in my book but they were what they were.

 

[NotUrsula]

Did anyone else note that of the 19 violators of the dress code, 17 *chose* to take the paddling?

An enormous number of US parents still approve of corporal punishment (though it is a bit unusual to apply a paddle to a 17 yo's tush for any other reason than a fraternity initiation). I'd be willing to bet that every one of the kids who took the paddling option was probably a veteran of such punishment at home. Most of the time, when it is used in high school, paddling is considered a low-damage option in terms of academic reputation; it normally doesn't damage your GPA or force you off a sports team. The idea is that you step up, take you licks, and the transgression is then over and forgotten. It probably would have been in this case, too, if this girl's family hadn't decided to go to a television station with the story.

IME, school districts that use corporal punishment today normally send a permission letter to parents at the start of the school year. If those kids are paddled, their parents authorized it.

 

[MM27]

I've seen dresses a lot worse than that, but the school had a dress code policy and she didn't follow it. If her mother didn't know about such a policy, as she stated, then perhaps her daughter should have shared that. I didn't know doesn't make you exempt.

As far as the paddling, there was a reality show on a few years ago called The Principal's Office and they were in a school where the principal told some kids that they could be paddled or have Saturday detention. One of the boys took the paddle because he said he had a job on the weekends and the paddling was quick and then it was over. They at least had a choice.

I live in one of the states where it's illegal, but I'll tell you, with the lack of discipline many kids have, perhaps a few paddles would make them get it together.

 

[MzDiz]

Hey, people pay good money to get paddled. I just want to know if the students get the benefit of a ball gag to chomp on.

 

[Becky2005]

I am unclear - was she denied access to the prom? What about the other 17 in violation? Did they get in or get turned away?

That's what I'm wondering -- from the way it is worded it sounds like "OK, you can stay at Prom even dressed inappropriately as long as you take your paddling".

This girl decided to not go that route and get the 3 day suspension. It doesn't say if they were still let into the Prom or not.

So, I'm wondering if the choice was -- A. you can stay if you take the paddling or B. you have to leave if you take the suspension.

I'm surprised about the paddling too, I'm just thinking with as quick as everyone seems to be to want to call child welfare if your child so much as has a bruise on them, throws a temper tantrum in public, etc... then to allow the school to actually hit your child seems bizarre to me.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

my prom was 8 years ago and my dress was more revealing than that. my stomach showed and everything(And no, there was no "mesh" over it, it was fully visable).

gosh some people are just so uptight about stupid stuff.

 

[zippitydoo]

I did not think the dress was that bad. I was more in shock about the paddeling, to me that is insane. They could of made her go home and change or put on a sweater like somebody else mentioned. But make them choose between getting suspended or getting paddled. I mean c'mon what year is this again

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Disgusting, isn't it? I love what we teach our kids.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Corporal punishment is assualt? Give me a break

So what if this girl took an object and hit someone with it? What exactly would we call that?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I think the very idea that an adult can assault a child who is not their own is beyond belief. We've had teachers arrested for all sorts of unthinkable things around here, not just here but everywhere Giving something like this a nod is just unconscionable and should be banned.

I agree.

There was another LONG thread on the DIS a while back about paddling. I was shocked then to read that it's allowed at any school.

I don't understand why she wasn't just sent home.

Me neither. Wouldn't the punishment fit the crime better? You don't follow the dress code, you don't get to attend your prom. Makes sense to me.

I think Principal Trey Holloday has a spanking fetish. Just sayin'.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Here's that other thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2330653&highlight=paddling

And here's info from that thread:

Where the states stand on corporal punishment:
Alabama--Legal
Alaska--Illegal
Arizona--Legal
Arkansas--Legal
California--Illegal
Colorado--Legal
Connecticut--Illegal
Delaware--Illegal
District of Columbia--Illegal
Florida--Legal
Georgia--Legal
Hawaii--Illegal
Idaho--Legal
Illinois--Illegal
Indiana--Legal
Iowa--Illegal
Kansas--Legal
Kentucky--Legal
Louisiana--Legal
Maine--Illegal
Maryland--Illegal
Massachusetts--Illegal
Michigan--Illegal
Minnesota--Illegal
Mississippi--Legal
Missouri--Legal
Montana--Illegal
Nebraska--Illegal
Nevada--Illegal
New Hampshire--Illegal
New Jersey--Illegal
New Mexico--Legal
New York--Illegal
North Carolina--Legal
North Dakota--Illegal
Ohio--Legal
Oklahoma--Legal
Oregon--Illegal
Pennsylvania--Illegal
Rhode Island--Illegal
South Carolina--Legal
South Dakota--Illegal
Tennessee--Legal
Texas--Legal
Utah--Illegal
Vermont--Illegal
Virginia--Illegal
Washington--Illegal
West Virginia--Illegal
Wisconsin--Illegal
Wyoming--Legal

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Did they let her into the dance? If not, I don't know how they can punish her and if the DID let her in- I dont' see how they could punish her (they let her in).

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Here's that other thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2330653&highlight=paddling

And here's info from that thread:

Where the states stand on corporal punishment:
Oregon--Illegal

Good, I'm glad I live in this state. Whether or not I think paddling or spanking is OK, I think it's a thing that should be determined by a parent, not a teacher or principal.

 

[momrek06]

Even though my kiddos are grown up and college grad's, if I had relocated to one of those states with DH's job and found out that state allowed PADDLING ... I do not care if the salary was more money than imagineable ... I would pack my family and all my bags and we would relocate!


22 states ... shocking!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Here's the list separated by Legal and Illegal. I see a trend, and I'm not surprised.

Legal
Alabama--Legal
Arizona--Legal
Arkansas--Legal
Colorado--Legal
Florida--Legal
Georgia--Legal
Idaho--Legal
Indiana--Legal
Kansas--Legal
Kentucky--Legal
Louisiana--Legal
Mississippi--Legal
Missouri--Legal
New Mexico--Legal
North Carolina--Legal
Ohio--Legal
Oklahoma--Legal
South Carolina--Legal
Tennessee--Legal
Texas--Legal
Wyoming--Legal

Illegal
Alaska--Illegal
California--Illegal
Connecticut--Illegal
Delaware--Illegal
District of Columbia--Illegal
Hawaii--Illegal
Illinois--Illegal
Iowa--Illegal
Maine--Illegal
Maryland--Illegal
Massachusetts--Illegal
Michigan--Illegal
Minnesota--Illegal
Montana--Illegal
Nebraska--Illegal
Nevada--Illegal
New Hampshire--Illegal
New Jersey--Illegal
New York--Illegal
North Dakota--Illegal
Oregon--Illegal
Pennsylvania--Illegal
Rhode Island--Illegal
South Dakota--Illegal
Utah--Illegal
Vermont--Illegal
Virginia--Illegal
Washington--Illegal
West Virginia--Illegal
Wisconsin--Illegal

 

[teacherforhi]

That list is out-of-date. Corporal punishment is illegal in NC. We received something in the past year of so informing us of this. I have to be honest, though, in 12 years, I've never seen it done. I was surprised to learn it was legal while I was still teaching.

 

[december]

Paddling is legal here, and my boss is quite fond of it. But parents have to sign to allow it. A form is sent home every year. Teachers are allowed to paddle as well. In 13 years of teaching, I have never even owned a paddle. I have been called in to witness a few times. It isn't my choice of punishment, but it is very common. I wouldn't be upset if it was outlawed, though.

Any child who is on the no paddle list is suspended. Most kids will just take the paddling and go back to class.

You will all love this. Once every few weeks we have what my boss calls a "T" party. He calls out a list of kids who have had 3 or more tardies, lines them up, and paddles them one at a time.

BTW, I'm a high school teacher.

 

[momrek06]

Paddling is legal here, and my boss is quite fond of it. But parents have to sign to allow it. A form is sent home every year. Teachers are allowed to paddle as well. In 13 years of teaching, I have never even owned a paddle. I have been called in to witness a few times. It isn't my choice of punishment, but it is very common. I wouldn't be upset if it was outlawed, though.

Any child who is on the no paddle list is suspended. Most kids will just take the paddling and go back to class.

You will all love this. Once every few weeks we have what my boss calls a "T" party. He calls out a list of kids who have had 3 or more tardies, lines them up, and paddles them one at a time.

BTW, I'm a high school teacher.

Yikes, december, it just is very unsettling to me that paddling is even a choice for punishment. Just disturbs me.

 

[december]

Yikes, december, it just is very unsettling to me that paddling is even a choice for punishment. Just disturbs me.

I really don't like witnessing it either. Again, it isn't my choice, but is common in my area. All the schools here allow it, with an adult witness. My boss is really a great guy, and the kids adore him. He is very much old school-retiring this year. The new principal is younger, 40s, but is a firm believer in paddling, too. He is the middle school principal now, and has quite a reputation on this.

I agree with others that if the kids weren't allowed into the prom, that should be their punishment. They knew they were breaking dress code, so missing the party is ok in my book. But I don't think they should be punished again at school.