It’s 2025—and it’s still legal to hit children in Florida public schools.

Across the U.S., most states have banned corporal punishment in classrooms. But not Florida.

Here, it remains on the books—allowing teachers and administrators to paddle, strike, or otherwise physically punish students as discipline.

That’s not education. That’s violence.

We’re calling on Florida lawmakers and the state Board of Education to immediately ban corporal punishment in all public schools!

Here’s what we know:

Hitting kids doesn’t work. It doesn’t improve behavior.

It causes harm—mental, physical, and emotional.

It disproportionately affects Black students, students with disabilities, and boys.

It’s been linked to long-term problems like anxiety, depression, and even future violence.

The U.S. Department of Education, American Academy of Pediatrics, and World Health Organization have all called for an end to corporal punishment in schools. It’s time Florida listens.

Students deserve safe classrooms—not classrooms where they fear being hurt.