Among the bills filed for the upcoming session is one related to corporal punishment in elementary and secondary schools. Even though policies vary across individual school systems, Metairie Rep Stephanie Hilferty wants to incorporate a statewide rule for the matter.
“This standardizes the procedure and puts it in the hands of the parents. So that parent receives a notice home with the child, and they can decide whether they want to sign that and send it back in. So, it really puts the parent in the decision-making role for the child,” said Hilferty.
Last year Hilferty sponsored legislation that would ban the practice across the board altogether and it narrowly missed passage. In this session she wants parents to make the decision if the school system can or cannot physically punish their child.
“I don’t necessarily think this is the place for it to be done, but if it is going to be done the parent certainly needs to be aware of it and approve of it,” said Hilferty.
Even though Hilferty believes corporal punishment should be discontinued in public schools, she wants parents to chime in among the school systems that still allow for it with House Bill 242.
“We don’t hit prisoners in the prison system, we don’t hit juveniles in juvenile detention, but for some reason, we’ve decided that from K-12 that’s the time period where hitting is going to modify the child’s behavior,” said Hilferty.
According to the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents in the 2021-2022 school year, 19 school districts allowed corporal punishment.
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