As a parent, I send my child to school to learn—not to be hit.

But here in North Carolina, it’s still legal for public schools to use corporal punishment—to paddle, strike, or physically discipline students as part of classroom management.

This is not okay.

We now know what decades of research confirm: hitting children doesn’t improve behavior—it causes harm. It can lead to anxiety, depression, physical injury, and distrust of the very teachers who are supposed to guide them.

And it’s not fair. Corporal punishment is used disproportionately against Black students, students with disabilities, and boys. Some kids are hurt more often—because of who they are.

That’s why I’m calling on the North Carolina General Assembly and Department of Public Instruction to finally ban this practice across the state and invest in real, effective alternatives like restorative justice, mental health supports, and positive behavior practices.

My child deserves a classroom that teaches empathy—not fear. Accountability—not violence.