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Corporal Punishment and Disabled Students
Recent federal Department of Education data show that more 200,000 school children are paddled, spanked, or subjected to other physical punishment each year. Twenty states continue to allow corporal punishment in public schools. This is disturbing in itself. Even more disturbing is the fact that students with disabilities receive a disproportionate share of corporal punishment. Whereas students with disabilities make up 14% of all students, 19% of students receiving corporal punishment had disabilities.
Both the Human Rights Watch and American Civil Liberties Union are urging lawmakers to ban corporal punishment nationwide. They urge an immediate moratorium on corporal punishment of students with disabilities. Advocates of the moratorium point out that in some cases, students with disabilities have no understanding of why they are being punished. We support the overall ban on corporal punishment and most certainly with regard to students with disabilities.
Students with disabilities require special attention from their teachers, and hence need teachers who are understanding of their condition and knowledgeable enough to teach and handle these special students.
Unfortunately, possible ignorance or lack of information has caused this disheartening situation to arise.
Hopefully more emphasis will be placed on this and a better alternative will be implemented to guide teachers to guide their special-needs students to be independent and even better, contribute to the society. Nothing is impossible.
Punishing a child (spanking) moderately is far short of corporal punishment. Many children get the message when minor punishment is administered. All spanking should be done in a loving, caring, and concerned way as to never hurt the child. and the hand used. Nothing else. With a full explanation to the child as to why they are receiving the punishment.
I am glad that you are opposing corporal punishment. I am a member of Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education (PTAVE).