Paddling Punishment Instituted in School District After Board Approval

A Missouri school district recently announced that it will be instituting corporal punishment option for students, but parents must approve of the disciplinary action.

The Cassville School District School Board this summer approved a policy to institute corporal punishment, or paddling, in schools as a last-resort disciplinary method, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Each family will be given the option to either opt-in or opt-out of the policy.

The Cassville School District student handbook includes a subsection titled "Corporal Punishment" in the discipline section.

"Corporal punishment is the use of physical force as a method of correcting student behavior. Corporal punishment, as a measure of correction or of maintaining discipline and order in schools, is permitted," the handbook says.

"However, it shall be used only when all other alternative means of discipline have failed, and then only in reasonable form and upon the recommendation of the principal. Corporal punishment shall be administerd [sic] only by swatting buttocks with a paddle."

Cassville School District Superintendent Merlyn Johnson told the Springfield News-Leader that while he did not expect to impose such a disciplinary method, many parents requested another form of punishment for their children.

"We've had people actually thank us for it," Johnson said. "Surprisingly, those on social media would probably be appalled to hear us say these things, but the majority of people that I've run into have been supportive.

"This will only be for those parents who wish to be part of it. We respect the decision of every parent, whatever decision they make."

Only school principals are allowed to administer the paddling punishment and another school employee must be present as a witness, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

"When it becomes necessary to use corporal punishment, it shall be administered so that there can be no chance of bodily injury or harm. Striking a student on the head or face is not permitted," the district's policy says, according to the Springfield News-Leader.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that "In the United States, corporal punishment is legal in 19 states (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming).

"The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry opposes the use of corporal punishment and supports legislation outlawing its use."

A spokesperson for the Cassville School District told Newsweek in a statement: "Corporal punishment is authorized by Missouri statute and is an option for each local school board to consider. It is an opt-in only option for parents. The parent has to give written consent prior to corporal punishment being administered."

In a statement sent to Newsweek, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Education said, "In Missouri, policies pertaining to student discipline are developed at the local level and voted on by local boards of education per state law."

"Missouri Senate Bill 681 goes into effect August 28, 2022. A provision within that bill modifies Section 160.261, RSMo and will now require school districts to notify parents and receive written permission before using corporal punishment," the spokesperson added.

While the district's superintendent said that many parents were happy about the new disciplinary methods, one parent spoke to KOLR in Missouri and had a different opinion.

"I feel like if they had a different outlet like counseling services in school instead of corporal punishment, that would be the more appropriate answer," said Miranda Waltrip, who has three children in the school district.

"At the end of the day, they are having to hold the child down and spank them or use whatever means that they can to make the child submissive when that is not the issue, it is the fact that they need to be heard because children act out for varied reasons."

Update 8/24/22, 4:38 p.m. ET: This story was updated with a statement from the Cassville School District.