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When I think about a teacher hitting a child, I feel ill. I don't know how a child is ever to learn to trust a teacher (or principal, or counselor) who might hit him or her.

I grew up in schools with nuns, also, but we were never hit. Discipline was rigid, however, and I remember feeling intimidated more than once.

I get a feeling in the pit of my stomach that corporal punishment is just not right. I also get a feeling of stress, because I can't imagine someone who made the decision to go into teaching feeling so overwhelmed that they think their only option is to spank.

I have to think that parents make all the difference. When a parent is involved and the teacher communicates that there is a problem, then they start working together to solve that problem. My nephew had a behavior problem in school, and my sister and his teacher spoke every day until it was fixed. But if a parent is not involved, and if a child has no respect for the school's disciplinary process -- time outs, and so on -- then I'm not sure what recourse a teacher has. I actually can imagine a situation where a mouthy, undisciplined child with a parent who isn't involved might straighten up at the threat of corporal punishment. I hate the thought, but I can see that it would have an effect.

Susan, if every parent was as involved, as thoughtful and as rational as you are, maybe there'd be no need to even discuss corporal punishment. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

December 19, 2008 - 10:24am

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