Should corporal punishment be allowed in schools?
Question:
Many parents who use corporal discipline at home are opposed to its use in a Christian school. They feel that only the parent should administer this type of discipline when needed. I have always believed that the school should have the authority to paddle when needed. What are your views on this controversial subject?
Answer:
Given the number of incidents of abuse occurring, I'm not surprised that parents have concerns about turning the right to physical punishment over to school officials. From a scriptural viewpoint, nothing indicates that others can't carry out corporal punishment. In fact, in some cases, the government used it to punish certain offenses (Proverbs 10:13; 19:29).
In private schools, parents can choose to send their children there. Thus, as long as the policy of the school regarding corporal punishment is clearly laid out, such as who is allowed to administer it, in what cases it is used, and the guidelines for the actual administration, then the parents can make an informed choice as to whether the school meets their needs.
One root cause of problems in public schools today is the lack of an effective way to enforce rules and discipline. You can't fail a student, so there is no incentive to do homework or get good grades if a child is determined not to be obedient. Schools will use detentions, but again, if a child doesn't go, the school can't do anything. The only options a school has for severe punishment are suspension or expulsion, which they generally want to avoid because they also affect the funding they receive.
Parents aren't helping either, as the school is generally seen as "the enemy." Parents tend to take their children's side instead of the teachers' and administrators'. Since there is no punishment at home for disobedience in school, again, violence and a lack of learning increase.
I see no reason for taking away options from a school for maintaining a violence-free and disciplined learning environment. Teachers and administrators need tools that allow them to enforce rules. Currently, 28 states prevent corporal punishment in schools. See: "States with Corporal Punishment in Schools" for a list. Other forms of punishment that also provide benefits, such as physical workouts or homework assignments, should also be a part of a school's "arsenal" against disruptive and unruly behavior.
