Recently, our local news reported a story about my home state of Tennessee discussing a statewide study on corporal punishment being used in schools. The report stated they found evidence that in Tennessee children with disabilities are spanked at much higher rates than other children.
"Students with disabilities received corporal punishment at a higher statewide rate than students without disabilities....Of the students that used corporal punishment...about 80 percent used corporal punishment at a higher rate for students with disabilities." - quote from Tennessee Corporal Punishment Report
The one area the report didn't get into was listing which types of disabilities children who were spanked were diagnosed with.
Being Punished For Reasons Relating To A Disability
From what I know about students with disabilities is that certain conditions are correlated to behaviors that adults may see as punishable offenses. For example, children with Tourettes syndrome may have tics like struggling to control their voice or what they say. Children with autism may also have outbursts or repetitive behaviors they can't control. Teachers may punish students for tics they can't control thinking the kids are misbehaving or being disrespectful. Because of their disabilities, many children may be seen as misbehaving when they really aren't.
Corporal punishment can actually make some conditions worse and can emotionally/psychologically scar some children. To have a disability means a kid already has to struggle with day to day life. Being paddled or spanked at school can cause some kids to be afraid of their teachers or to go to school. The below quote indicates to me that students with disabilities may actually become victims of more severe forms of physical abuse by teachers or school officials that are inappropriate.
"ACLU and Human Rights Watch interviews found that students with disabilities also suffered many other forms of corporal punishment, including beatings, spanking, slapping, pinching, being dragged across the room, and being thrown to the floor." Quote US: Students With Disabilities Face Corporal Punishment at Higher Rates
From studies on corporal punishment and it's use on students with disabilities it sounds like it is an inappropriate way of dealing with issues that may arise in the classroom. To me physical punishments are wrong to use on all students and only cause more harm than good. Being spanked can be humiliating, can make some students feel more aggressive and angry, and can lead to psychological issues.
Compassion Instead of Violence
A long time ago I worked as a tutor for a disabled kid in high school. I don't know his exact disability name but he was in high school but couldn't comprehend high school level education. He had problems being able to use his hands, arms, and legs. He was still learning elementary level math and I taught him how to count money and do addition and subtraction. He had two teachers, specially trained to work with kids who had disabilities who could give him the attention he needed. Those two teachers were compassionate and patient with him. They never got irritated or bothered with his disability.
That is something I think all teachers need to realize is that students with disabilities aren't doing some behaviors on purpose. They can't help it if they can control their arms or if they get frustrated and have outbursts when they are struggling. There are many teachers who aren't trained to understand this and may react with anger and frustration thinking these students can be taught through spankings how to behave correctly.
Corporal punishment, to me, is a negative form of discipline. In the hands of teachers who misuse it, it can be a harmful tool that can cause both short and long-term impacts on children. When used on children with disabilities it can be even more harmful and can make their suffering or conditions harder to cope with.
How do you feel about corporal punishment? How does it make you feel to know children with disabilities are punished at higher rates?
Photo credit Pixabay
This is sad news,I am against corporal punishment. As long as I can remember, on my children's school, they ask parents if they want corporal punishment. Parents have to consent to this. And I always say no. And definitely no for children with disabilities. Child autism is a very challenging phenomenon to deal with. Parents struggle so as the child. Teachers have to have open ears and wide understanding on this.Know the difference between disabilities and misbehaving.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I've always been against corporal punishment. Hearing that disabled kids get punished more often really makes me angry. I think that parents should be called beforehand and asked for permission as a way to allow parents to protect disabled kids from unfair punishments.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
I agree. If the parent consents to it, I can just imagine what the child goes through at home too. But for the teachers, I'm a bit shocked they are not trained how to handle kids with disabilities. It also teaches kids who don't have any, that it is ok or normal to be mean/tough on people who are disabled.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Oh my gosh. I was getting so angry with reading this. I cannot believe they even still allow that in schools. I remember one of my childhood schools allowing that, and seeing kids running from principals office holding their behinds and crying. What I don't understand, is why the heck are those parents letting that happen? Those kids cannot control what they do. It makes me want to go to one of those schools and beat the teachers with the same paddle or whatever they use. As you stated, those kids already have a hard enough time with being disabled. They are not even my child/children but I went into protective mode upon reading the post. I truly hope this brings awareness to all parents. I am resteeming this too.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Thanks for commenting and resteeming. It also makes me mad. Where I live people tend to be traditional and conservative which includes lots of outdated practices. It's a shame corporal punishment is still popular here. They recently started allowing it in the schools where my daughter may someday attend and I'm so angry about that. If a teacher ever paddles my kid I'll be so pissed.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
No doubt. I'd be right there with you, to confront the would-be paddler too. Not going to lie, I spanked my kid when he was young and I still find myself disappointed for not finding another means to discipline until the look on his face one day woke me up. I went to my room and cried and that was the last time I paddled. Sometimes a parent may find it the very last resort after all means had been tried, but it is never ok for kids who don't understand exactly what they are doing, to get spanked.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
work done by normal people can also be done by people with disabilities. They also have activities. Therefore, the community is expected to accept the existence of PwDs
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It's hard to believe that corporal punishment in schools is even allowed anymore; there's overwhelming evidence to support the fact that it is essentially not effective and actually, detrimental to a child's well being.
I think physical punishment of any sort is just proof of an adult's inability to keep self-control, and in your examples, a teacher's inability to understand. Because you are completely correct when you say that a child with a disability means they have no control over some of their behaviors, unlike an 'able' child would.
I'm so saddened and frustrated that the education system in a developed State can be so archaic...a throwback to times when the disabled were destined to asylums and sterilized. It's beyond comprehensible and frankly, makes me want to march there myself and give them a piece of my mind !! (That's called half kidding in my house ;)
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This article saddens me to know that the vulnerable and weaker of our schools are subject to such atrocious acts of discipline. Discipline in it's intent is to correct bad behavior for the good of the student/child and done out of love to protect the future of the recipient from further harming themselves or others. I can't imagine any of these teachers administratoring discipline for the right reasons, thus, they are not qualified to touch the child at all. I wonder that the parents don't storm the halls in outrage. How can adults with full capacity justify such misuse of power?
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Corporal punishment in all schools should be banned. I had a teacher in the second grade who was a firm believer in corporal punishment and it was even more effective if used as peer pressure.
I remember distinctly being on the receiving end of her justice. The first time was when a boy in front me stole my lunch money. I tapped him on the shoulder and was asking for my money back when we were both called up to the front of the class. The teacher accused me of lying and he was being disruptive by turning around to talk to me. I went home with my hand blistered.
The second time the whole class was the recipient. Everyone needed to line up and present both hands. (Again my hands blistered.) Then we were sent back to our desks and made to sit on our hands until the bell rang for time for home.
The teacher was eventually put under supervision but not until a lot of damage had been done.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very unfortunate if the action continues to be left. Students with disability should have special attention.
Do they not realize or think, if disability what is in him, his children, or even on his family.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Very sad. In Spain, I didn't see anything like that in the schools I was placed in. We had students with disabilities in the classes with the rest and a separate hour, where they meet with a tutor. Granted, my experience is limited to three schools.
Part of the problem is that teachers are already expected to do too much. Not only do you have to prepare lessons, teach, and grade, but you have trainings and meetings, conferences, etc. On top of that you add studying psychology and, in Florida, potential weapons training. Corporal punishment isn't a solution, though.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Oh this made me angry! I wasn’t aware of a lot of this was still happening, thank you for sharing with us!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
got anger frustation and i felt so much really i hate those idiots.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Sorry for them love your humanity.you are a person by heart.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This is a great initative from you,love you approch such kind of issues once in a while,hope everything goes in their favour.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
really i feel so bad about this,how can be people d like this this is shame for humanity.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit