House Education approves legislation outlawing the use of corporal punishment in Louisiana public schools.
Baton Rouge Representative Barbara Freiberg, a retired educator, said children mirror the behavior they see in adults, and utilizing corporal punishment teaches kids to solve problems using violence.
“This bill certainly would help us with not perpetuating hitting as a way to resolve conflict,” said Freiberg, who was supported by New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman who argued utilizing corporal punishment creates a culture where domestic violence is more common.
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education spokesperson Ethan Melancon told the committee BESE is strongly in favor of the bill.
36-year veteran teacher Tammy Wood spoke in support of the bill. She said if a student is acting out schools should work to find out why instead of just beating them.
“Some students may be disruptive and display behavioral problems. Rather than punish the child these problems should be identified and addressed with the support of school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists,” said Wood.
Louisiana Association of School Superintendents head Michael Faulk spoke against the bill. He said this decision should be left up to districts and notes the 29 that still allow it have to follow certain corporal punishment guidelines.
“You go back to the old days when the paddles used to be very, very thick and they had holes in them so the wind could go through them and they could strike, that you would consider violence,” said Faulk. “Nowadays there is a prescribed thickness.”
In the 29 districts that allow corporal punishment parents are allowed to opt-out of it and chose other punishments instead.
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