i can remember paddling being allowed here in MI up until i was in middle school. most teachers used paddling as a threat rather than to actually physically do anything. i wonder what the guidelines were…

My mother spanked me maybe four or five times and my sister a few more, but I think she would have gone BALLISTIC if anyone at school touched us. I grew up in Michigan and I don't remember if it was allowed or not, I just know I was never threatened and never saw anyone else threatened. I actually can't believe that parents are okay with this.

Sorry sterohyped! I was spanked by my mother a single parent and I'm thankful she did it. I don't have any children (I'm only 27), but I do plan to spank my children.

I'm not saying I deserved every spanking, but it taught me to respect my mother and never get caught! LOL

I don't condone spaking is schools, but I don't see anything wrong with spanking a child that gets out of line.

~kyla

Minority students are expected to act up more than whites and are often targeted to get punished for bad behavior. its also a misconception that all black kids "get their A## whooped" so a lot of teachers probably think these kids are use to this type of discipline. its sad to say but in my classroom management course, i was the only black student and most of my white classmates thought that the best way to discipline "urban students" would be to use some sort of strict routine. I think that a lot of these white teachers are afraid of minority students and don't know another way to deal with them. thats no excuse and there need to be more courses on cultural diversity in teaching programs.

This is just disgusting!!! I am 29 and I do remember being spanked back in elementary school( I am from Georgia) and I think it is a sickening and ludicrous practice. Not only are the "benefits" of spanking a child debatable themselves but the idea of someone who doesn't even know my child, someone who really has no relationship to my child outside of the school, is going to put there hands on him or her in a physical way…should be illegal. How can you you have a random person use physical force against your child!?! The whole things is sad and twisted.

I remember getting paddled in Kindergarten because I wouldn't close my eyes during naptime, and another paddling in 1st grade because a kid told on me because I lifted my head from the table while the teacher was out. In both grades I had attended a Christian school. I was surprised that my mom didn't know about it, because when I brought it up in casual conversation, she asked me why I didn't tell her. I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything because I didn't want a repeat at home. Anyway, today's average teacher does not have the training or even the capacity to deal with the complexities with children of color. I'm against spanking children in school because it will eventually have a negative impact on the child's association with school and getting an education, especially if the child is hardly ever praised but constantly punished. Discipline on that level should be dealt with by the child's parents or caretakers, and not a teacher.

I believe in spanking, as long as it's between two (or more) consenting adults.

^^this is the old solitaire that I know and love.
A little soft biting is okay too.

Only parents should spank not beat, their children. School officals hitting children except in self denfense is a big nono. To many perverts who may enjoy S&M behavior with children.

I was hit constantly in elementary school in Nigeria. I couldn't even imagine not being hit. The funny thing is the reasoning behind it. The first time in Kindergarten, it was because my mom signed my homework in pencil. The numerous times that followed, it was over being late to school because an uncle would stop to hit on some women on the way or because my brother didnt't do his homework or for getting an answer wrong.

The headmistress who was also my neighbor would tell us that in America, the kids weren't hit in school because they were so much better behaved unlike us African beasts who needed to have branches broken on our bodies like goats to get answers right. This myth was quickly dispelled after moving back to the U.S.

Growing up in Louisiana I never got spanked in school, but my friends were not so lucky. They got spankings, plus soap in the mouth(for curse words). I think if a teacher would have ever spanked me, my mother would have gone to school and promptly kicked his or her ass. I really think spanking does nothing. I rarely got spanked as a child because I was just a good kid, but my sister got spanked all the time and she was still bad as hell. The temporary pain of a belt meant nothing to her. If I ever caught a teacher spanking my child, you best believe some shit would go down.