A report was recently released by Education Week outlining the results of a study on corporal punishment currently being used in schools throughout the U.S. Surprisingly, 21 states still allow and use corporal punishment.
A report was recently released by Education Week outlining the results of a study on corporal punishment currently being used in schools throughout the U.S. Surprisingly, 21 states still allow and use corporal punishment. During the 2013-2014 school year, over 109,000 students were paddled in 4,000 schools nationwide. Of those, the states with the highest incidences of corporal punishment were Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and Oklahoma. Mississippi had the most widespread use of the practice, with over half of their students attending schools that use paddling or some form of physical punishment.
The study highlighted the unequal impact of the practice based on factors such as region, economics and race. Rural schools were more likely than their urban or suburban counterparts to have students attending schools utilizing corporal punishment. Rural students accounted for 51% of enrollment in schools where at least one student was physically punished. Suburban schools used physical punishment the least, making up 41% of enrollment in schools where the practice does not occur.
White and black students were more likely than students of other races to attend a school that allows corporal punishment. However, only the black students encountered a disproportionate rate of actually being physically punished, as they made up only 22% of total enrollment in schools using corporal punishment, but 38% were recipients of it. White students made up 60% of total enrollment but only 50% were physically disciplined.
Poverty also factored into the study. Students eligible for free and reduced lunches were more likely to attend schools using corporal punishment than those not eligible. The report pointed out that this was understandable due to the higher rates of poverty in the southern states that make up the majority of states allowing corporal punishment. The study also found that within states that do allow the practice, wealthier students were less likely to attend schools that use it than were poor students.
The study and related scholarly articles may be found at the following link: Edweek.org Corporal Punishment Study.
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We’re back in business, everybody! It was such a pleasure spending the summer with so many of you. We had a great time hosting you at OPSRC and an even better time spending the day with you at your school sites learning about the great work you do on a daily basis.
Creating new professional development opportunities on different platforms has become the Teaching & Learning team’s focus.
The OPSRC is a school service organization dedicated to the development of services for public schools. We would like to clarify our stance on Senate Bill 1187 (SB 1187). SB 1187 passed out of the Oklahoma Senate last week on Thursday, March 10, with a vote of 25-20.
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