Letter: Children should feel safe in school; corporal punishment creates atmosphere of fear

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OPINION|

by Michael Hoeman, M.D., Springfield

As a former member and president of the Springfield R-12 Board of Education, as a physician, and as a parent and grandparent, I was dismayed to learn that a member of our current Board of Education is promoting the use of corporal punishment in our schools.

While it is certainly appropriate and necessary for the Board of Education and the district administration to consider and enact disciplinary policies in order to teach appropriate behavior and to provide for the safety and well-being of our students and staff, the use of corporal punishment is not an effective or ethical method for management of behavior in schools. In fact, it is harmful for our students.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that corporal punishment in all school settings be abolished in all states by law and be replaced by alternative forms of student behavior management. Inasmuch as corporal punishment is not currently being used in our district, it appears to me that consideration of implementing corporal punishment in our schools is not only regressive, but it is also contrary to currently available data.

Other concerns raised by corporal punishment include inequities in its administration. Studies have shown that corporal punishment is administered disproportionately to minority students, students with disabilities, and students of low socioeconomic background. Additionally, there is the concern that teaching the child that physical violence is a solution to problems will deter them from seeking more constructive solutions to their own problems.

School should be one of the places where children feel safe and comfortable. The threat of corporal punishment creates an atmosphere of fear. It can affect the child's attitude toward authority, affect their ability to learn, and cause a dislike of school. It can also cause anguish for the staff person responsible for administering the punishment.

In view of these and many other adverse effects of corporal punishment, I feel it is incumbent on our Board of Education and our district administration to promote disciplinary policies and enforcement actions which would surely result in much better outcomes for everyone.