A new report by The Atlantic details the still-widespread use of corporal punishment in public schools across the country. Education groups, activists, and parents—including those victimized by the practice—are demanding that corporal punishment be outlawed in schools. The groups insist outlawing the practice will protect children’s physical and emotional health.
Corporal punishment is still legal in 19 states, mainly in the South, Southwest, and Midwest. This states include Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Colorado. Texas ranks second in spanking students. Lawmakers in the state give parents the right to exempt their children from corporal punishment with a signed waiver. A 1977 Supreme Court case found that spanking in schools does not violate students’ rights. Even in states where the practice is banned, reports of physical discipline in schools persist. Evidence shows that a disproportionate number of the students receiving corporal punishment are black.
