Make corporal punishment illegal in Public and Private Schools in the US
Make corporal punishment illegal in Public and Private Schools in the US
The Issue
As of July 2020, it is legal for public schools to exercise use of corporal punishment on children in 19 states, to include day cares. As of this year, 48 states allow for the use of corporal punishment in private schools. The use of corporal punishment can legally be used on any age child. There are no protections, or exemptions, for non verbal children, disabled children, or children enrolled in religious based childcare or child education.
“Corporal punishment encompasses all types of physical punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, and hitting with an object. It also may include forcing a child to consume unpleasant substances such as soap, hot sauce, or hot pepper. In the United States, corporal punishment is legal on a federal level, but state laws vary on what types of physical punishments are allowed.“
Corporal punishment defined by Merrian-Webster dictionary: “Punishment that involves hitting someone, physical punishment.“
it is currently illegal in all 50 states to be the aggressor of a physical altercation, or to “punch first,” As an individual over the age of 18. To legally be protected from the law, you MUST be “hitting back,” in self defense. ‘Self defense’ is defined as being hit first, and responding in the like, but only to protect yourself. ‘Self Defense,’ is only applicable when the person acting is responding to an eminent threat. It’s the last line of defense. You are not legally protected if you as the person acting in self defense, -escalated the situation. Then your likelihood of being protected by “self defense” essentially goes out the window due to your ‘escalation of violence.’
We expect adults to adhere to these laws and social expectations to not be the aggressor in a situation, or to hit first. The law expects us to remain calm, cool, and collected and to use violence as a last measure. We as adults need to hold ourselves, our teachers, and our school districts to the same standard.
Another item to consider, is that the study of corporal punishment and it’s effects in children, have been proven time and time again, to mentally, and physically hinder the development of that child.
“While corporal punishment may lead to immediate compliance, researchers have found that the changes in behavior may only be short-term. In fact, studies consistently show that over the long-term, corporal punishment is ineffective and may even cause behavior problems to increase.”
(Medical Sources to prove the effects of physical punishment on children listed at the bottom of this article.)
We the people, decide what is allowed into our Public Schools. We decide what history is taught, we decide is acceptable, what is the standard of care, and we decide what is safe. We must use our heads, and use the science laid out in front of us, to create the best environments we can for our children. This is not the place to debate corporal punishment at home, this is the place where we decide whether we are okay with it being used in our educational institutions. The truth is, we didn’t know a lot of things were bad for us, until the science showed otherwise. We teach our children to revere science, and that it is truth. Yet, in 19 states, we ignore the science in regards to the well being and safety of our children in our public schools. Yet, in 48 states it is legal in a private school. Yet it is legal, to exercise the use of corporal punishment in most religious settings.
We the people, get to decide, and I encourage you to do the research for yourself.
Articles to check:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447048/
https://disabilityjustice.org/physical-abuse/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/04/spanking
http://endcorporalpunishment.org/wp-content/uploads/research/Research-effects-review-2016-06.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768154/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/facts-about-corporal-punishment-1094806
459
The Issue
As of July 2020, it is legal for public schools to exercise use of corporal punishment on children in 19 states, to include day cares. As of this year, 48 states allow for the use of corporal punishment in private schools. The use of corporal punishment can legally be used on any age child. There are no protections, or exemptions, for non verbal children, disabled children, or children enrolled in religious based childcare or child education.
“Corporal punishment encompasses all types of physical punishment, including spanking, slapping, pinching, pulling, twisting, and hitting with an object. It also may include forcing a child to consume unpleasant substances such as soap, hot sauce, or hot pepper. In the United States, corporal punishment is legal on a federal level, but state laws vary on what types of physical punishments are allowed.“
Corporal punishment defined by Merrian-Webster dictionary: “Punishment that involves hitting someone, physical punishment.“
it is currently illegal in all 50 states to be the aggressor of a physical altercation, or to “punch first,” As an individual over the age of 18. To legally be protected from the law, you MUST be “hitting back,” in self defense. ‘Self defense’ is defined as being hit first, and responding in the like, but only to protect yourself. ‘Self Defense,’ is only applicable when the person acting is responding to an eminent threat. It’s the last line of defense. You are not legally protected if you as the person acting in self defense, -escalated the situation. Then your likelihood of being protected by “self defense” essentially goes out the window due to your ‘escalation of violence.’
We expect adults to adhere to these laws and social expectations to not be the aggressor in a situation, or to hit first. The law expects us to remain calm, cool, and collected and to use violence as a last measure. We as adults need to hold ourselves, our teachers, and our school districts to the same standard.
Another item to consider, is that the study of corporal punishment and it’s effects in children, have been proven time and time again, to mentally, and physically hinder the development of that child.
“While corporal punishment may lead to immediate compliance, researchers have found that the changes in behavior may only be short-term. In fact, studies consistently show that over the long-term, corporal punishment is ineffective and may even cause behavior problems to increase.”
(Medical Sources to prove the effects of physical punishment on children listed at the bottom of this article.)
We the people, decide what is allowed into our Public Schools. We decide what history is taught, we decide is acceptable, what is the standard of care, and we decide what is safe. We must use our heads, and use the science laid out in front of us, to create the best environments we can for our children. This is not the place to debate corporal punishment at home, this is the place where we decide whether we are okay with it being used in our educational institutions. The truth is, we didn’t know a lot of things were bad for us, until the science showed otherwise. We teach our children to revere science, and that it is truth. Yet, in 19 states, we ignore the science in regards to the well being and safety of our children in our public schools. Yet, in 48 states it is legal in a private school. Yet it is legal, to exercise the use of corporal punishment in most religious settings.
We the people, get to decide, and I encourage you to do the research for yourself.
Articles to check:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3447048/
https://disabilityjustice.org/physical-abuse/
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/04/spanking
http://endcorporalpunishment.org/wp-content/uploads/research/Research-effects-review-2016-06.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3768154/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/facts-about-corporal-punishment-1094806
459
The Decision Makers
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on July 17, 2020