Corporal Punishment: Just What Is It and What Should We Do About It?

Opposition to corporal punishment in the United States has increased over the last 2 decades. This paper explores the legal implications of the maltreatment of children in schools, particularly corporal punishment. Despite the general opposition to corporal punishment, several issues must still be resolved. The first of these is one of definition: What constitutes corporal punishment? The ramifications of using broad or narrow definitions are discussed. The second issue involves the drafting and enacting of an acceptable law. Problems center on defining whether the following practices constitute corporal punishment: infliction of pain (how much and what kind), confinement, verbal abuse, and force. The third issue is the retraining of teachers, who must be given alternatives for handling student discipline problems. In conclusion, the prohibition of corporal punishment is not enough--the legal and educational communities must refine the concept of corporal punishment, draft and enact more acceptable laws, and retrain teachers in the use of acceptable practices. The endnotes contain three references. (LMI)