Elizabeth Thacker English 101 Final Draft November 4, 2008

Abolishment of Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is a form of adolescent medicine that is ineffective in its practices. Corporal punishment is positive punishment in the sense that something is added such as the application of physical pain. Some methods of this punishment include hitting, spanking, kicking, pinching and shoving and also using objects like wooden paddles, belts, sticks and others. Corporal punishment should only be used to restrain a dangerous student in the need to protect the school environment. Therefore, corporal punishment should be abolished in schools. Corporal punishment sets the wrong example for children to follow. It teaches children to use violence because they see there parents and elders inflicting it. Evidence shows that children who are subjective to corporal punishment are more likely to use violence when they have their own families later. Alice Farmer pointed out, “beating kids teaches violence and does little to stop bad behavior.” (3) Teachers and parents should resist the temptation to use corporal punishment because the are not placing the right character traits in their kids. Minorities seem to be punished more, according to recent studies. Minority students are punished at a rate of 1.4 times more than their fellow classmates. Studies also show that minority girls are 2.1 times more likely to be paddled than current expectations. In addition to minorities receiving most corporal punishment, special education students are also likely to receive corporal punishment. Evidence does not clearly state whether or not these students break the rules at a disproportionate rates. These methods are not effective in junior high and high schools. There are many ways to have disciplinary communication with students. School officials can express an attitude that the enjoy working with