INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — U.S. Secretary of Education, John B. King Jr., is urging government and education officials to end corporal punishment. He says the practice would be considered criminal assault or battery if committed against an adult. He says statistics show a disproportionate number African American and disabled students are given corporal punishment.
“The practice has been clearly and repeatedly linked to negative health and academic outcomes for students,” King said during a conference call with reporters. “It is opposed by parent organizations, teachers unions, medical and mental health professionals, and civil rights advocates as a wholly inappropriate means of school discipline.”
Corporal punishment is legal in 22 states, including Indiana.
King says it’s time to rethink discipline, and eliminating the practice would be in line with President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative. The learning environment would become much more positive if corporal punushment were replaced by a more supportive disciplinary practice.
