Shelby County (TN) bans corporal punishment at school

[The Straight Story]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — There will be no paddling in the unified Shelby County school system.

According to The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/15ufGOy ), the school board spent minimal time debating the issue Tuesday before voting 13-2 to eliminate corporal punishment.

The old county system allowed paddling, but the former Memphis City Schools eliminated it in 2004.

The decision is similar to the "no paddling" policies enacted earlier in the Knox County and Metro Nashville public school systems.

School board member David Reaves had previously advocated keeping the paddling option, but said Tuesday he changed his mind after talking with educators.

"Quite frankly, I'm scared to use it," Reaves said. "You could easily wind up in court. I think it's in our best interests that we eliminate the paddle."

Administrators of the merged system had recommended banning physical punishment in favor of a progressive discipline policy. The board discussed the proposal last month, but did not make a decision then.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/crime/article/Shelby-County-bans-corporal-punishment-at-school-4697470.php

[Nye Bevan]

1. Am I the only DUer who didn't realize that any school, anywhere, still allowed corporal punishment?

I thought this was abolished everywhere years ago.

[LWolf]

2. So did I.

And I'm a teacher who has taught in two different states.

If I'd stopped to think about it, I probably would have wondered if there were any states or districts out there that still used corporal punishment in public schools.