Life

Experts Say Corporal Punishment Can Have Long-Term Negatively Affect Kids

Whenever children head out of the house for school, they have an abundance of thoughts going through their heads. They might worry about possible pop quizzes or smoothing things over with a friend. Most states still legalize corporal punishment, allowing students to discuss whether they may be paddled or spanked in class.

The harshest form of punishment in schools is corporal punishment, which can take the form of paddling, spanking, or another deliberate infliction of physical pain. UN calls it a violation of human rights.

Kyung-wha Kang, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, corporal punishment, said, “it violates the human dignity of children and their right to physical integrity. It also affects children’s rights to health, survival, and development, preventing them from reaching their full potential.”

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Is It Okay To Paddle A Child At School?

Tessa Davis’ son, now 9, believed corporal punishment was the best punishment. In kindergarten, Davis received a call from her son’s school requesting permission to paddle the physically aggressive student.

She and her husband agreed because they grew up in a spanking-centric environment. Moreover, he was punished for “putting his hands on someone” by someone putting their hands on him.

Are Kids Shamed And Scared By Corporal Punishment?

However, Davis notes that many parents in her community support spanking because their kids were spanked at home and school and turned out fine. In her view, spanking at home only taught her to lie, hide her feelings, and shut herself off because she was afraid of being hit as a child.

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Alternatives To Corporal Punishment

Founder of Lives in the Balance Ross Greene believes adults should address children’s behavior when they act out, whether at home or school. In contrast, he does not believe paddling is the right approach since corporal punishment harms children and does nothing to hold them accountable.

Spanking And Paddling: Their Long-Term Effects

As a result, Jeffrey became interested in the practice – which he had never questioned until then. In 2008, Jeffrey learned more about the harms of paddling and became involved in the “school to prison pipeline.”

Many communities accept corporal punishment as a way of life and have used it for generations.