I was spanked as a child all the time, for small and large infractions. Then when I'd get spanked, I would be told that if my mom caught one of my younger siblings doing what I had done, I would get it again for teaching it to them. It was always bare bottom with a wooden brush.
All I got out of it was that my mother was mean and abusive and I needed to be afraid of her. When I made a mistake, I would get very upset about it and to this day, I still will beat myself up over a mistake and feel like a failure.
Spanking is not the answer and I'll be damned before a teacher spanks my child.
Post by blueshirt2003 on Feb 20, 2014 12:32:49 GMT -5
It's allowed in Texas. My sons principal threatened him to get permission from us to spank him. I would laugh in his face if he asked me. My son's principal clearly dislikes him and I would never, ever allow the person my son essentially fears to get spanked by him. Nor would I allow any principle to do this regardless of other issues.
Post by CrazyLucky on Feb 20, 2014 12:44:50 GMT -5
It's allowed in NC, but like some of the other states mentioned here, it varies by school district. There are only 6 districts out of 115 that allow it. There is also a parental permission slip, but I'm not sure if the default is hitting or no hitting. Spanking is very common where I live, and I am regularly made fun of for using time outs. The county that had the most children hit last year, 141, is the school district that many of my co-workers live in. Also, since NJ is usually so maligned... I think it's cool that they outlawed corporal punishment in 1867
Post by SpartanGirl on Feb 20, 2014 12:45:54 GMT -5
Our state does not allow it. Growing up (in a different state) our school paddled kids. I can remember the paddles hanging up next to the door in every classroom and the whole class getting silent so we could listen when someone was paddled in the hallway.
In fact, in elementary school we made a gift for our parents that was essentially a paddle. It was a wooden spoon, wrapped in rickrack, with our school picture on them. There was some poem attached that said something to effect of "I hope you never have to use this on me." So bizarre.
OMG. Fuck. I am not ready for public school. Do they tell you that you need to sign this waiver or do you need to ask for it?
I can't imagine a teacher or principle would risk this though right? There would be one hell of a backlash ending in court I would assume?
Nonononononononono.
It isn't legal everywhere in FL, mostly in panhandle counties I think. I know it is allowed in the county my H is from and where my inlaws both teach.
Also, I hear people talk about spanking their kids all the time here. Like moms yelling in Target about how if their doesn't quiet down they are going to get smacked. I actually heard one mom, when complimented on her toddler son's behavior at the pedi's office, say "I know, I haven't even had to spank him much!" The nurses at least looked shocked. I mean, I know it happens, but I can't believe how loud and proud some people are about it.
I'm in NE Fla and it was allowed at my high school. You could opt to get swats instead of detention. Both the student and the parents had to give permission. A lot of kids would rather get the swats because detention would make them late for work. Yet another reminder that north Florida might as well be Georgia.
It isn't allowed in MA. But, it was in Missouri. Most districts won't do it, though. It is such a lawsuit waiting to happen. My tiny district (where I taught) hadn't done it in 20 years.
Post by emoflamingo on Feb 20, 2014 14:28:55 GMT -5
In Kansas, each district has a policy on spanking, so it's not like everyone is whoopin' kids. However, I'm glad that the bill to allow up to 10 swats and leaving marks died a quick death on the House floor. All the teachers my oldest have had, so far, have been very nurturing and have done a LOT of positive reinforcement.
In the 5th grade my best friend got paddled for calling a boy a sissy on the playground. Apparently my teacher implied it was some kind of gay slur. I was scared to death in school all the time of getting paddled even though I never did. I did plenty at home though, which is why i think I have such ambivalent feelings towards my parents even now.
DCAnnie, I live in your world unfortunately and it is the norm down here too. Including smacking one year olds hands, which my ILs did once to Addy and I saw red. They haven't made that mistake again. They also walk on eggshells around me now too. Lol
I will be signing all waivers because I will flip out if my kid gets threatened with it. Physical punishment is a huge no in my book.
When I was in elementary school (late 80s/early 90s) This was allowed, but parents had to sign permission as to whether they could use it on their child or not. I remember one kid always getting in trouble and being spanked with a ruler in the library.
Post by peachdragon on Feb 20, 2014 16:39:38 GMT -5
Looks like it's banned in my state. However, when I was in elementary school (private), I got paddled once in 2nd grade. 3 spanks by the principal (man). The other kids said I was lucky the principal did it, because he had a light hand compared to the female secretary who normally did it.
I went to a very, very small Christian school for most of high school. (We had 50 kids from preK-12 grade.) I switched to this school from public school due to some major anxiety issues. One of the graduation requirements was a class on Christian Growth, which was an entire semester's worth of work that focused solely on how mental illness is caused by a lack of belief in God and was caused by a person being willful and disobedient. I was supposed to write a paper on anxiety and how people who suffer from it are Godless heathens. I refused. The principal threatened to paddle me. I very nicely told him that if he came near me, they'd lose my precious tuition. He backed off after that.
I had a few parents ask if we would just paddle their kids each year. WTF?
I live in TX but I had no idea that paddling was legal here until I became a teacher. The district I lived in didn't paddle growing up (and still doesn't) and it's also not allowed by the district I taught in. ETA: No waivers or permission slips or any of that. Both districts feel that it's a lawsuit waiting to happen and have banned it.
The parents solution was just to come up to the school and spank them themselves. I normally avoided calling those parents at all costs (because, HELLO) but there was one instance where it was unavoidable. I felt terrible for the kid.