The State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday opposing the use of corporal punishment in public schools.
The board’s action would not affect local school boards’ policies on paddling as a disciplinary method. State law gives local boards the authority to make those decisions, and a law would be required to impose a statewide ban.
The vote was intended to show the state board’s stance on the issue, said a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
The resolution states that the use of corporal punishment has been criticized by child development experts and advocacy groups. It can “instill fear of physical pain in the victim, which replaces any meaningful understanding of the underlying punishment” and is harmful to students, the resolution says.
In the 2011-12 school year, 12 school systems allowed corporal punishment, and there were 404 instances reported statewide, according to a report released last month by the Department of Public Instruction. That is a decrease of 55 percent from the previous school year.
The most common reasons cited were disruptive and aggressive behavior, according to the report.
This year, the number of school systems that allow corporal punishment has dropped to nine.
Robeson and Bladen counties are the only systems in the Cape Fear region that use corporal punishment. In March, the Columbus County school board voted to eliminate paddling.
Robeson County, with 267 instances, had the highest number of corporal punishment reports in the state in the 2011-12 school year, according to the state. Bladen County had one case.
Mike Smith, chairman of the Robeson County school board indicated Thursday that corporal punishment would not necessarily stop in Robeson County despite the state’s resolution.
“We appreciate the state board’s position,” said Smith. “Once it becomes law, we will abide by it. Until then, we will still enforce our policy.”
Studies over the past two decades have shown that corporal punishment does not change student behavior or improve academic outcomes, said Tom Vitaglione, senior fellow with Action for Children North Carolina, a child advocacy group in Raleigh.
“We are pleased that the State Board of Education leaders have come to that conclusion,” he said.
Rep. Marvin Lucas, a Democrat from Spring Lake and a member of the House Education Committee, said attempts to ban corporal punishment through legislation have not been successful in the past.
In 2011, state lawmakers amended the current law to require written permission from parents or guardians to allow educators to use corporal punishment on their children.
“Each General Assembly changes,” Lucas said. “We have an enormous number of freshmen this year. I have not had an opportunity to pursue their sentiments. I am sure it will come up.”
If the use of corporal punishment is not abused, it could be a good deterrent for bad behavior, said Lucas, a retired educator. But he said there are alternative measures for handling discipline problems.
“It appears to be antiquated in some circles.” Lucas said. “With the additional counseling that we have available in schools now, corporal punishment probably is less effective than it used to be.”
Gia Howell, whose children are in primary and middle schools in Lumberton, said she feels parents should be the disciplinarians, not school officials.
“To me, there are other ways of disciplining children at school,” she said.
Nancy Locklear supports corporal punishment. Locklear is the mother of a sixth-grader at Union Elementary School in Rowland. She said she signed the form authorizing school officials to paddle her child.
“I agree with punishing children, as long as they don’t abuse it,” she said. “I think they should leave it in school.”
Belinda Brewer, who also has children at Union Elementary, said in some instances, it is good to have corporal punishment in schools, as long as parents are aware of the policy.
“I am open to it as a form of discipline,” she said. “If kids don’t think there is any repercussion for their actions, it is just going to keep escalating.”
Dr. Leontye Lewis, dean of the Fayetteville State University School of Education, supports the state board’s position. She said some children act up in school because they are bored.
“Some teachers do not think about the students when they plan a lesson. They think about the content,” she said. “If students are involved and engaged, it will keep them motivated and excited about learning. I believe there are many positive ways for children to adhere to the expectations in the classroom rather than the use of corporal punishment.”
Staff writer Venita Jenkins can be reached at jenkinsv@fayobserver.com or 486-3511.North Carolina State Board of Education opposes use of corporal punishment in public schools, Fayetteville Observer (02.08.2013)
The State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday opposing the use of corporal punishment in public schools.
The board’s action would not affect local school boards’ policies on paddling as a disciplinary method. State law gives local boards the authority to make those decisions, and a law would be required to impose a statewide ban.
The vote was intended to show the state board’s stance on the issue, said a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
The resolution states that the use of corporal punishment has been criticized by child development experts and advocacy groups. It can “instill fear of physical pain in the victim, which replaces any meaningful understanding of the underlying punishment” and is harmful to students, the resolution says.
In the 2011-12 school year, 12 school systems allowed corporal punishment, and there were 404 instances reported statewide, according to a report released last month by the Department of Public Instruction. That is a decrease of 55 percent from the previous school year.
The most common reasons cited were disruptive and aggressive behavior, according to the report.
This year, the number of school systems that allow corporal punishment has dropped to nine.
Robeson and Bladen counties are the only systems in the Cape Fear region that use corporal punishment. In March, the Columbus County school board voted to eliminate paddling.
Robeson County, with 267 instances, had the highest number of corporal punishment reports in the state in the 2011-12 school year, according to the state. Bladen County had one case.
Mike Smith, chairman of the Robeson County school board indicated Thursday that corporal punishment would not necessarily stop in Robeson County despite the state’s resolution.
“We appreciate the state board’s position,” said Smith. “Once it becomes law, we will abide by it. Until then, we will still enforce our policy.”
Studies over the past two decades have shown that corporal punishment does not change student behavior or improve academic outcomes, said Tom Vitaglione, senior fellow with Action for Children North Carolina, a child advocacy group in Raleigh.
“We are pleased that the State Board of Education leaders have come to that conclusion,” he said.
Rep. Marvin Lucas, a Democrat from Spring Lake and a member of the House Education Committee, said attempts to ban corporal punishment through legislation have not been successful in the past.
In 2011, state lawmakers amended the current law to require written permission from parents or guardians to allow educators to use corporal punishment on their children.
“Each General Assembly changes,” Lucas said. “We have an enormous number of freshmen this year. I have not had an opportunity to pursue their sentiments. I am sure it will come up.”
If the use of corporal punishment is not abused, it could be a good deterrent for bad behavior, said Lucas, a retired educator. But he said there are alternative measures for handling discipline problems.
“It appears to be antiquated in some circles.” Lucas said. “With the additional counseling that we have available in schools now, corporal punishment probably is less effective than it used to be.”
Gia Howell, whose children are in primary and middle schools in Lumberton, said she feels parents should be the disciplinarians, not school officials.
“To me, there are other ways of disciplining children at school,” she said.
Nancy Locklear supports corporal punishment. Locklear is the mother of a sixth-grader at Union Elementary School in Rowland. She said she signed the form authorizing school officials to paddle her child.
“I agree with punishing children, as long as they don’t abuse it,” she said. “I think they should leave it in school.”
Belinda Brewer, who also has children at Union Elementary, said in some instances, it is good to have corporal punishment in schools, as long as parents are aware of the policy.
“I am open to it as a form of discipline,” she said. “If kids don’t think there is any repercussion for their actions, it is just going to keep escalating.”
Dr. Leontye Lewis, dean of the Fayetteville State University School of Education, supports the state board’s position. She said some children act up in school because they are bored.
“Some teachers do not think about the students when they plan a lesson. They think about the content,” she said. “If students are involved and engaged, it will keep them motivated and excited about learning. I believe there are many positive ways for children to adhere to the expectations in the classroom rather than the use of corporal punishment.”
Staff writer Venita Jenkins can be reached at jenkinsv@fayobserver.com or 486-3511.
The State Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday opposing the use of corporal punishment in public schools.
The board’s action would not affect local school boards’ policies on paddling as a disciplinary method. State law gives local boards the authority to make those decisions, and a law would be required to impose a statewide ban.
The vote was intended to show the state board’s stance on the issue, said a spokesman for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
The resolution states that the use of corporal punishment has been criticized by child development experts and advocacy groups. It can “instill fear of physical pain in the victim, which replaces any meaningful understanding of the underlying punishment” and is harmful to students, the resolution says.
In the 2011-12 school year, 12 school systems allowed corporal punishment, and there were 404 instances reported statewide, according to a report released last month by the Department of Public Instruction. That is a decrease of 55 percent from the previous school year.
The most common reasons cited were disruptive and aggressive behavior, according to the report.
This year, the number of school systems that allow corporal punishment has dropped to nine.
Robeson and Bladen counties are the only systems in the Cape Fear region that use corporal punishment. In March, the Columbus County school board voted to eliminate paddling.
Robeson County, with 267 instances, had the highest number of corporal punishment reports in the state in the 2011-12 school year, according to the state. Bladen County had one case.
Mike Smith, chairman of the Robeson County school board indicated Thursday that corporal punishment would not necessarily stop in Robeson County despite the state’s resolution.
“We appreciate the state board’s position,” said Smith. “Once it becomes law, we will abide by it. Until then, we will still enforce our policy.”
Studies over the past two decades have shown that corporal punishment does not change student behavior or improve academic outcomes, said Tom Vitaglione, senior fellow with Action for Children North Carolina, a child advocacy group in Raleigh.
“We are pleased that the State Board of Education leaders have come to that conclusion,” he said.
Rep. Marvin Lucas, a Democrat from Spring Lake and a member of the House Education Committee, said attempts to ban corporal punishment through legislation have not been successful in the past.
In 2011, state lawmakers amended the current law to require written permission from parents or guardians to allow educators to use corporal punishment on their children.
“Each General Assembly changes,” Lucas said. “We have an enormous number of freshmen this year. I have not had an opportunity to pursue their sentiments. I am sure it will come up.”
If the use of corporal punishment is not abused, it could be a good deterrent for bad behavior, said Lucas, a retired educator. But he said there are alternative measures for handling discipline problems.
“It appears to be antiquated in some circles.” Lucas said. “With the additional counseling that we have available in schools now, corporal punishment probably is less effective than it used to be.”
Gia Howell, whose children are in primary and middle schools in Lumberton, said she feels parents should be the disciplinarians, not school officials.
“To me, there are other ways of disciplining children at school,” she said.
Nancy Locklear supports corporal punishment. Locklear is the mother of a sixth-grader at Union Elementary School in Rowland. She said she signed the form authorizing school officials to paddle her child.
“I agree with punishing children, as long as they don’t abuse it,” she said. “I think they should leave it in school.”
Belinda Brewer, who also has children at Union Elementary, said in some instances, it is good to have corporal punishment in schools, as long as parents are aware of the policy.
“I am open to it as a form of discipline,” she said. “If kids don’t think there is any repercussion for their actions, it is just going to keep escalating.”
Dr. Leontye Lewis, dean of the Fayetteville State University School of Education, supports the state board’s position. She said some children act up in school because they are bored.
“Some teachers do not think about the students when they plan a lesson. They think about the content,” she said. “If students are involved and engaged, it will keep them motivated and excited about learning. I believe there are many positive ways for children to adhere to the expectations in the classroom rather than the use of corporal punishment.”
Staff writer Venita Jenkins can be reached at jenkinsv@fayobserver.com or 486-3511.