Position Paper Admonishing the Use of Corporal Punishment in Public Schools

Position Paper Admonishing the Use of

Corporal Punishment in Public Schools

The position this paper represents does not delve into the historical theories or the moral philosophies as to whether or not corporal punishment toward children is, in and of itself, effective or morally acceptable. Instead, the position of this paper is to argue against the use of corporal punishment as a means to behavior modification in public schools throughout America.

For years the debate about the use and effectiveness of corporal punishment by teachers in schools has divided educators and theorists. Attempts have been made to determine if the policy of bringing physical harm to a child does indeed thwart misbehavior and encourage students to follow the established rules and regulations set forth by the schools. Although the United States Supreme Court has ruled it legal to administer corporal punishment in schools, 28 states in America have banned the practice.

My argument against the use of corporal punishment is two-fold. One position is that corporal punishment, administered by teachers, is not the most effective means of halting undesirable behavior in the classroom or encouraging acceptable behavior. In addition, my position opposing corporal punishment in the classroom is based on the personality of the teacher; concern that those giving the punishment may not possess the ability to objectively administer the penalty in an unbiased, impartial manner.

Despite studies performed to examine the effects of corporal penalty, there is no compelling evidence that the administration of such penalty on students serves as a deterrent of misbehavior any more than alternative methods. Other means of addressing the situation such as home contact, written statements, time-out, daily progress sheets, isolation, work detail, detention, or Saturday suspension class, all serve as viable consequences that deter classroom disruption (Diamantes, 1992). Another indicator of its ineffectiveness to deter misbehavior (any more than alternative methods) are what some consider to be the ‘conditions’ that must surround corporal punishment for it to be effective.

To be effective, corporal punishment must follow wrongdoing instantaneously, the punishment must follow nearly ever act of wrongdoing, and punishment should be inflicted by surprise. The punishment must be inflicted on only the guilty party and in proportion to the wrongdoing